Islamabad [Pakistan], February 22 (ANI): Denouncing the law placing fetters on the fundamental rights of citizens, representatives of media and journalist organizations in Pakistan on Monday, walked out of a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, reported local media.

Kabul [Afghanistan], January 17 (ANI): The Afghan media community continues to face overwhelming challenges under the new Taliban regime and this has instilled a sense of uncertainty in them.

Kabul [Afghanistan], January 17 (ANI): Lamenting over diminishing freedom of expression post-Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, a media survey showed that 95 per cent of Afghan journalists have the problem of access to information and they cannot cover stories independently.

Mumbai Dec 21 PTI Actor Naseeruddin Shah filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane and lyricist-writer Varun Grover were among 850 signatories to a letter on Tuesday opposing the merger of public institutions including the Films Division FD and the National Film Archives of India NFAI with the National Film Development Corporation NFDCThe letter sent to the ministry of information and broadcasting has also been signed by academics students and members of the civil society among othersIt opposed the governments proposed move to restructuremerge the Childrens Film Society of India CFSI Directorate of Film Festivals DFF FD and NFAI with NFDC which was announced in December 2020The letter stated that the move which was taken without consultation with the stakeholders is a matter of concern due to the lack of clarity and transparency in the process of this mergerIn December last year the Union Cabinet had approved the merger of four government film media units with the NFDC with an aim of converging activities and resources and better coordination to ensure synergy and efficiency in achieving the mandate of the bodiesSince the MIBs announcement of re-assessment of these units in January 2019 we have followed several notices issued by the government We hoped that an exercise as important as this will involve detailed discussions with the stakeholders including members of the film fraternity and the employees of the above mentioned institutions amongst othersHence it was a surprise to know that the High Powered Committee under Shri Bimal Julka submitted its report without engaging with the primary stakeholders The fact that this report has not been made publicly available despite an RTI application raises further questions about the legitimacy of the whole process the letter readIt raised concerns over the inaccessibility of the report especially in light of the recent announcement of the government to shut down three of these units as early as January 2022According to the letter drafted by filmmakers Prateek Vats and Shilpi Gulati the decision of the government has led to speculation that it eventually aims to privatise film archives and government propertiesIt called the ministrys decision to close the FD and NFAI as a catastrophe in the name of Indian film heritageAs critical stakeholders in the matter we are concerned about the lack of clarity and transparency in the process of this merger There is widespread speculation in the media that the entire exercise is a precursor for future privatisation of our film archives and government propertiesGiven the urgency of the matter we request the MIB to clarify doubts to assuage the suspicions arising at this stage and take immediate action to safeguard the history of Indian cinema and the future of Indian filmmakers who have been closely associated with these institutions in varied capacities The signatories to the letter include filmmakers actors writers editors from the country such as Nandita Das Anand Patwardhan Gitanjali Rao Nimisha Nair Nishtha Jain Shama Zaidi among othersThe letter listed grievances including a request to release the report of the High Powered Committee headed by Bimal Julka immediatelyPublic funded institutions like FD NFAI and CFSI must not be merged with a corporation like NFDC Consultations in a transparent and open manner should be undertaken with various stakeholders including filmmakers and employees vis a vis these institutions and how they see them with full autonomy enhanced state funding and commitment to their original mandatesThe government must declare the FD NFAI CFSI archives as National Heritage funded by public money and belonging to the general public It must commit to protecting the archives and give written assurances in the Parliament that they will not be sold or auctioned either now or in the future Concerns and anxieties of the employees working at these public institutions should be addressed at the earliest it readThe letter emphasised that the said government institutions will function efficiently when they have enhanced autonomy and greater state fundingThe government must take up the responsibility to empower them and actively work towards the preservation nourishment and propagation of the countrys cinema heritage and culture painstakingly built by government employees filmmakers archivists students and film enthusiasts of our country it further readIn view of the above we demand the current process of re-structuring of these public institutions should be put in abeyance till the pending issues of transparency and public consultation are addressed We sincerely hope the Ministry will take cognizance of our grievances it added PTI JUR RB ZMN RB RB