Considering the drop in the number of members of the NFAI film circle
The advisory committee of the National Film Archive of India
(NFAI) has given its nod to the revised rates for research fellowship.
The rate, given by the NFAI, was revised before 2008 but could not be implemented
as the committee had not given its approval.
After the nod, the new rates for scholarships would be effective from 2008. The
director of NFAI, Prashant Pathrabe, said on 27 May that for research fellowship,
each student would be entitled for Rs. 60,000 per annum and Rs. 25,000 towards incidentals.
Earlier it was Rs. 24,000 per annum and Rs. 8,000 towards incidentals. The Union
ministry of information and broadcasting has increased the number of fellowship
from two to 10 per year and has also increased the budget to Rs. 15 lakh.
For monograph project it would be Rs. 30,000 (consolidated) instead of Rs. 15,000
and for oral history project it would be Rs. 1,000 per hour for recorded interview
limited to Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15,000 towards incidentals.
Considering the drop in the number of members of the NFAI
film circle, the membership rates have also been revised.
"Though there wasn’t any change in the annual membership fees from 1996 to 2007,
annual membership fee was increased in 2008 from Rs. 600 to Rs. 2,000. However,
many members resisted the increase and the registration of members came down. To
increase the number of members, after consulting the NFAI advisory committee, we
have decided to reduce the membership fee for the current year to Rs. 1,500 per
annum with immediate effect," Pathrabe said.
The NFAI film circle screens films for its members every Saturday. It screens minimum
52 films in a year. Till 2008, the average number of members was 500, but now it
has dropped to 80 members.
"We appeal to former members and film lovers, especially youngsters, to become members
and join the Film Club movement," he said.
Courtesy: DNA India
