Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 18: A sustained campaign by students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune seeking the replacement of the institute’s director has found resonance back home, with students of Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in the city launching a similar protest against their principal demanding her ouster over alleged misappropriation of college funds.
Around 200 students of drama, culture and performing arts departments held protests Tuesday on the college premises shouting slogans against their principal Tamsarani Das Mohapatra. Sensing trouble, college authorities called the police. Within no time, two PCR vans arrived to disperse the protesters.
“We were holding a peaceful protest when the policemen started dragging us away one after another to break up the protest. Our college administration called the police. We are being deprived of our basic fundamental right to protest,” said Aparna Sahoo, a student.
Students said officials of the institute were unwilling to spend even on basic infrastructure, hampering their studies as a result. “We are students of theatre, but we don’t have an auditorium where we can practise. We have no equipment or tools to practise our art. When we ask for receipts of the money spent on infrastructure, the principal excuses herself saying she doesn’t handle the finances,” said Manorama Rout, a Drama student.
Principal Mohapatra had promised to submit receipts of money spent for the institute’s golden jubilee celebrations held recently, but she later backtracked, said Rout. Another student Rosaline Mohapatra said the girls’ washroom was very unhygienic.
Students added that the spending of funds for the monthly Sangeetayan programme was not being done in a transparent manner.
Principal Mohapatra however denied the charges of misappropriation, stating that the students were being instigated against her by some “sulking” faculty members. “Every year, the college conducts interviews for guest faculty and those who don’t qualify often attempt to foment discontent among students. Whatever spending is being done is audited by the government,” she said.