Murder of a Corporation
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 20, 2012 -

The newly developed complex of MFDC located at Palace Compound under Imphal East :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

It is sad to know that like the other Corporations, which were set up with great expectation, Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) Limited too has lost its status on account of failure of submitting the action taken reports and reviews in time by the state government.

As a consequence, the Centre has dropped MFDC from the list of Corporations in the country. Renamed as Manipur Film Development Corporation, the erstwhile Manipur Film Development Council was registered as a Public Undertaking Corporation in 1987 under the Company Act (Act I of 1956) with the stated objective of promoting and propagating film industry in the state.

Keeping aside the debate over whether MFDC has been able to live up to the expectation of the people towards realizing its laid down objective, establishment of the Corporation with just an initial authorized share capital of Rs 1.50 crores did come as a blessing to many film lovers in the state.

In its own little way, MFDC has been extending pre-production equipments, advice as well as financial assistance to film makers apart from organizing film festivals, workshops/seminars and sponsoring film lovers for participation in International Film Festival of India (IFFI) or for participation in Film Appreciation Course organized by National Film Archive of India from time to time. It also provides Rs 1 lakh to film producers as subsidy for making a colour feature film.

However, now that MFDC has fallen from the grace of Central patronage and would be reduced to the status of a Society, whatever little aid, advice or assistance that the film makers used to look up to from it may become a thing of the past.

The notification of dropping MFDC from the list of Corporations was reportedly conveyed to the state government by the Registrar of Corporation, Government of India in April this year citing failure of appointing a separate Secretary and submission of reports regarding revenue generation, financial dealings and other official communications on time as the main reasons.

Subsequent to the Central notification, a meeting of the members of MFDC chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also it's Chairman, was held sometime earlier in second week of the current month and took the decision of dissolving MFDC.

It is said that rules and regulations are being worked out and assessment of the existing assets are underway for handing over MFDC to a society.

So, the day is not far off for the final stamp of approval to be given by the state Cabinet to seal the fate of MFDC.

The development has caught the film lovers and professionals of the state by surprise, and it is not without reason.

After all, after years of stagnancy, Manipuri cinema has just started attracting the attention of the world once again, but the sword of Damocles now hangs over its head.

By the way, why the government, which is known more for sly appointments and controversies over any recruitments, has caught napping this time from appointing a Secretary of MFDC all these years?