Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Film and Television Institute (AP FTI), an extended campus of Kolkata’s prestigious Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, is reeling under severe infrastructural deficiencies, prompting a student protest on Thursday over the lack of basic facilities.
FTI AP is the third institute of its kind in India, following the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata.
Situated in Jote, approximately 20 km from Itanagar, the autonomous institute operates under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and is managed by a Society led by a President, with oversight from a governing council comprising film industry experts and ministry representatives. The institute is dedicated to nurturing students with the skills, knowledge, and creative vision required to thrive in the dynamic fields of film, television, and OTT media.
It currently houses 45 students, including two from Arunachal Pradesh, and commenced its first academic session in March 2025, with faculty joining a few months earlier in October 2024.
Despite its national standing, the institute faces acute infrastructural challenges. As per our sources, the AP FTI is functioning without an administrative block, classrooms, or even basic furniture like desks and benches. Classes are reportedly being conducted in the library due to the lack of designated academic spaces.
Hostels for both boys and girls are still under construction, forcing students to stay in the guest house. Electricity remains erratic, and the absence of a transformer for backup power adds to their woes.
Students also face water shortages and contamination issues. “There is no filtration system, and the water turns muddy during rainfall. Though bottled water and a single RO unit are being provided, it is insufficient,” a student of the institute told NewsFy.
In a disturbing instance, students were reportedly left hungry one night after the cook left without notice and no alternative arrangements were made.
Connectivity to the institute has also been cited as a major concern. The road leading to the campus is in poor condition, with no proper drainage system, making vehicular movement difficult, especially during rainy days.
Officials revealed that the construction contract was awarded to a local firm, Kenge Construction, with funding from the Centre. “Progress has been extremely slow. Even basic works like painting required repeated follow-ups,” said one official on the condition of anonymity.
On Thursday, students staged a protest highlighting the long-standing issues. A video call meeting was later convened between students, faculty, and the main office in Kolkata to deliberate on possible interventions.
The administration has assured the stakeholders that the concerns are being taken seriously, and solutions are being worked out.
This is a developing story.
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