Film Television Institute Of India ( FTII) may be the India’s first educational institute that has appointed psychiatrists to treat students ailments related to addiction. The number of students and staff affected with addiction was so high that governing council of FTII had to take note of it in the meeting. In October 2012 governing council resolved to deal matters related to drug consumption and drinking alcohol, seriously. However instead of dealing with it seriously institute appointed two psychiatrists in August 2013 to provide consultation to students and staff struggling with emotional and behavioral problems
There is no secret now that many
FTII students consume drugs openly without any restrictions. Rampant drug use
has caused a lot of problem in recent years here. Many of them in recent years
have sought psychiatric intervention for drug induced depression. It is very difficult to guess that when the
first incidences of drinking alcohol & drug consuming actually were
detected. However it is clear from the available proof that this “legacy” is
being followed since long.
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| Photo Courtsey picsant.com |
If filmmaker, former FTII
graduate and faculty Uday Shankar Pani is to be believed, when he was in theinstitute, he had attended a class of a big filmmaker who would place a liquorbottle on the table and then begin his class. Pani agreed to that mindset as a
student and made an adjustment. He later felt that even if the filmmaker was
sitting there in a drunken state, he was delivering some great lessons in
filmmaking. Later on Pani became faculty of FTII.
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| Photo Courtsey thehindu.com |
It appears that as time passed
the things became so worst that the Governing Council of FTII had to take serious note of drinking and drug consumption.
Additional agenda Item on 124th governing council was ‘discipline in campuses’.
The meeting resolved that ‘drinking alcohol, taking up drugs and any unbecoming
behavior in campus and public places has to be stopped; also very strong action
will be taken against those staff or students for breach of rules and law in
the campus’ . Noted screenwriter and director Saeed Mirza presided over this
meeting and was attended by Dr. Kiran Seth, Ms. Rama Vij, Aseem Sinha, then
Director of institute Dr. Narain and present director Prashant Pathrabe was
special invitee.
The resolution though does not
elaborate much but definitely throws
light on what exact situation was in the institute. Actually it was moral and
legal responsibility of all those bigwigs and authorities who attended this
meeting to convey this situation to the police. However nobody felt it
necessary because it would have caused damage to institutes stature. Though
strong action was warned it was just eyewash. The only thing then director did
was that he appointed two psychiatrists.
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| Photo Courtsey druglibrary.org |
Actually FTII has on its panel
two doctors for student’s minor ailments. In such case the Medical Officer
diagnoses and treats illness injuries as far as possible. In serious case/cases
ordinarily requiring treatment for longer than four days he has to refer the
cases to other appropriate Institutions, specialists, Municipal Dispensaries or
Government Hospitals for outdoor and other treatment.
The advertisement published in
August 2013 by FTII to appoint psychiatrists says “The Institute wants to
engage Psychiatrists (one male and one female) on contract on urgent basis. The
duties of Psychiatrist would be to spread awareness, provide counselling for
the students and staff struggling with emotional and behavioral problems. They
have to support student's emotional and behavioral health, give treatment
including counselling and medication.”
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| Photo Courtsey 1.bp.blogspot.com/ |
This may be the India’s first
educational institute that has appointed psychiatrists to treat students ailments
related to addiction. Big question is why FTII on its own appointed
psychiatrists to treat students? Why didn’t they refer students to other public
or private hospitals? Why did they hide this information from police? .Was it
more important to protect institutes dignity than addressing countries’ most
serious problem like drug addiction.The students are not allowed to do private
job while they are learning , then who provides them money purchase drugs and
alcohol. They consume drug means they are in contact with drug peddlers and
this chain can lead to any type of serious crime. Were these bigwigs waiting
for serious crime to happen? .The bigwigs who headed this institute and the
authorities now have to answer these questions.
The Government is now having
rounds of talks with student on so-called issues faced by this would be “center
of excellence’. However none of them i.e the students or their supporters have
addiction subject on their addenda. No authority has ever informed government
about this issue. At least now FTII administration has to make clear whether
any of the students and staff who are involved in talks with government is
consulting with FTII appointed psychiatrist or not.
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