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RSSKollywood Stars FEFSI Function By Sun Tv
About FEFSI
New dispensary for FEFSI members
S. Aishwarya
CHENNAI: For the 23,000 workers of film industry, the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) has fulfilled one of its long-pending promises. After seven years of wait, its members have got a dedicated building to house a dispensary.
Declared open recently by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the dispensary will cater to over one lakh people, including the families of the members. To start with, the facility is functioning two days a week – Monday and Thursday. There are plans to upgrade it as a daily dispensary in a few months.
The proposal to build a dedicated dispensary was initiated under the leadership of FEFSI’s former president S.Vijayan. Construction of the 6,000 sq.ft. building got completed two years ago, funded by all the 23 crafts association of FEFSI, but the inauguration was delayed owing to administrative reasons.
“This is something our members have been looking forward to for long. While we had a makeshift dispensary in our office, people had difficulty in utilising it owing to lack of space. A petition to start upgraded hospital has been submitted to the Chief Minister. We have asked him two grounds of land to build the hospital,” FEFSI president V. C. Guhanathan said.
The Federation has also listed out several other demands to Mr. Karunanidhi. One is a proposal to construct a film colony for the workers.
“The standard of living of our workers is pathetic. Thousands of our workers reside in slums on the narrow streets of Kodambakam. They have been instrumental in bringing out many blockbusters and the industry has been surviving mainly because of their contribution. We seek to improve their living and I hope the government helps us with land at the earliest,” he said.
While the Tamil film industry is booming, with so many small-budget films doing well in the box-office, many workers are not recognised.
“This is only after the outdoor shooting culture picked up. In studios, every one who works will be registered with the Federation. During outdoor shootings, many workers are picked up randomly and they are not recognised by the industry, which also makes it difficult for them in terms of getting more chances,” he said. The Federation will soon come up with a welfare association that would draft plans to build a school for the children of its members.
All India Cine Employees Federation and FEFSI will organise a rally in October and various issues will be discussed during a meeting preceding the rally, he said.
Aayirathil Oruvan
Kutty
