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I&B ministry may shut DAVP, launch VRS, sell FTII

Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi

The information and broadcasting ministry is exploring the possibility of closing down several media units, including the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, the Directorate of Film Festivals, the Films Division, the Directorate of Field Publicity, and the Song and Drama Division, ministry sources told rediff.com on Tuesday.

In line with the recommendations made by the Expenditure Reforms Committee, the I&B ministry is also contemplating with the idea of introducing a voluntary retirement scheme.

If the VRS is introduced the staff strength of the ministry and the organisations under it would be reduced to merely 2,176 from the existing 7,779, sources said.

Moreover, the government is also exploring the possibility of the film industry taking over the Film and Television Institute of India for which details of the asset transfer were being carefully worked out so as to safeguard the government's investments.

The government is also keen to play a role - directly or indirectly - in providing employment opportunities in several film-related vocations like editing and cinematography among other things. Sources said the government feels that vocational training capabilities of the FTII should be built up and a larger number of trainees should be inducted.

This should be done, said sources, through the new dispensation of the FTII being taken over by the film industry or by the existing dispensation in case the move does not materialise.

The government had directed the FTII to get its assets -- equipment, land and buildings -- valued. The FTII has so far estimated its fixed assets, on book, to be valued at around Rs 2.23 billion.

Meanwhile, there is also a proposal to set up a National Press Centre in New Delhi during the 10th Five-Year Plan. The facilities proposed at the centre would include a press conference hall, committee rooms, library, archives and film-screening facility.

A plot of land, measuring 1.955 acres, has recently been allotted for this purpose at Raisina Road in New Delhi. A budgetary provision of Rs 90 million has been provided in the Annual Plan 2002-2003 for implementation of this project, while the tentative 10th Plan outlay available is Rs 350 million.

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