Centre orders shutting down of branches of Films Division, two other cinema units by January-end Dec 14, 2021 https://scroll.in/latest/1012808/centre-orders-shutting-down-of-branches-of-films-division-two-other-cinema-units-by-january-end The government had announced last year that a clutch of state-run film organisations would be merged with the National Film Development Corporation.
The ministry had announced in December last year that these organisations along with the Directorate of Film Festivals would be merged with the National Film Development Corporation, which produces arthouse movies as well as runs the co-production platform Film Bazaar.
Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas (in a letter to I & B Minister) said that the National Film Development Corporation is registered under the Companies Act and “has to generate profit for its operation and sustainability”. He asked how it could “undertake projects and works of non-profit nature like preservation of archives of invaluable films, etc. and non-profit activities” being undertaken by the Films Division and Directorate of Film Festivals.
These activities were vital “for the preservation of [India’s] rich heritage as well as for promoting qualitative ventures rather than mere focusing on commercial productions or profits”, he wrote. “It cannot be measured in terms of money.”
“It is learnt that these entities have owned properties and other assets in almost all prime cities, that too in prime locations, and that those properties have a value of several thousands of crores,” he wrote. “The aggrieved stake holders are alleging that the real intention of the merger/closure is to slowly privatise the NFDC, once the merger is over, or to liquidate the same after a couple of years so that these assets can be sold or leased out for throwaway prices.”
Brittas asked Thakur to make the reports and documents related to the merger and monetisation of the assets public as well as the action plan to ensure that staff would not be retrenched.