FTII incurs losses as students overstay, says CAG report

The FTII has suffered huge losses as its students did not complete their courses on time and occupied hostel rooms beyond the allotted period, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said.

In its report to Parliament, the CAG said the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) suffered Rs 11.83 crore losses between 2010 and 2016 as it could not charge the students additionally for extended terms or hostel stay.

“The FTII failed to ensure that the students enrolled in its prestigious diploma courses complete them within the prescribed duration. Hence, a large percentage of enrolled students continue to be on the rolls of the institute,” the CAG noted.

Pressure on infra
The situation put high pressure on the institute’s limited infrastructure and denied an opportunity for aspirants, the CAG noted. It held the audit in June 2016 for the period between 2010-11 and 2015-16.
The FTII offers diploma courses of varying duration in film and television streams.

“We noted that between 2008 and 2012, out of 352 seats available for the six long duration diploma courses with a scheduled completion time of two and three years, 315 students were admitted,” the national auditor said.

Of these, 212 students (67.30%) were still on the roll as on March 31, 2016, as they were yet to complete the academic activities and projects.

This also consisted of 94 students (44.34%), 49 of whom enrolled in the 2008 batch and 45 in 2000- who overstayed by three years.

There were “no rules” to extend their tenures or any approvals sought from academic or governing councils.

As a result, students continued to be on the academic rolls and occupied hostel accommodations without paying, the CAG noted.