Manipur producers demand transparency in DDK Imphal

Manipur’s film producers, directors, technicians, exhibitors and artistes have demanded transparency in the selection process of the Doordarshan Kendra Imphal’s commissioned programmes.“We have noticed certain irregularities and abnormalities in the selection of our producers from the State for the Doordarshan programmes”, said Wangkhem Lalit Kumar, chairman of Film Forum Manipur, the apex body of film producers, directors, technicians, exhibitors and artistes of the State.

One hundred and thirty one film producers of Manipur, unlike other NE States, went to Guwahati to appear before a selection committee, constituted for the DDK Imphal’s commissioned programmes for the year 2006-07, from March 5 to 8 last. The committee has finally selected 51 of them.“But the result of the oral presentation was not announced till April 8 last, though the selected producers were informed individually”, lamented G Nirmal Sharma, a Manipuri film maker.

Violating the rules of the DDK’s selection guidelines, the selection committee has selected four persons who are presently working in government departments as well as DDK, alleges Oken Amakcham, a national award winner.
Besides, the committee recognized a local cable network without prior notification either by programme production centre (NE) Guwahati or by the DDK Imphal at par with other Satellite channels or DD as mentioned in guideline of the selection procedure.

“This is a clear indication of the Doordarshan officials’ intention to bring the new producers for reasons best known to them”, said a letter of the Film Forum Manipur addressed to Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati.

Since the previous selection, Manipur producers are compelled to go to Guwahati just to appear before the selection board unlike other producers of NE States. The reason is underground threat as alleged by DDK Imphal officials, felt the members of the Forum. In view of the development, the Forum felt that the change of venue for the oral presentation to Guwahati from Imphal has facilitated certain avenues for manipulations and place an unnecessary burden of extra expenditure on the financially disadvantaged applicants.

The DDK Imphal has the infrastructure to hold such presentations and interviews and in future such oral presentations should be done in Imphal, argued another member of the Forum.

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