Govt mulls ban on film promotions in educational institutions

Hyderabad: Taking serious note of educational institutions deviating from their core purpose, such as organising film promotions, the state government is mulling a ban on such events across educational institutions in Telangana.

According to government sources, a recent incident of stage collapse resulting in death of a student and several injured at an event forced the state government to take serious note of such events and to take steps to prevent reoccurrence of the same.

The core purpose of the educational institutions has to pave way for the bright future of the students. However, some management is exploiting students to serve its own political or personal interests. “This has not only led to various untoward incidents but, in some instances, has even resulted in the loss of students' lives.”

A senior government official told The Hans India, “Recent developments in certain educational institutions have sparked concern among the government, parents, and the academic community. The arbitrary declaration of holidays by educational institution managements, coupled with the hosting of large-scale events without adequate safety precautions—which has even led to the loss of students' lives—has caused deep concern among parents.”

Against this backdrop, government authorities have directed officials from the Education Department to conduct a comprehensive study on what types of events educational institutions may legally host on their campuses, and which ones should be prohibited.

Following the study, the government has concluded that educational institution premises should, in principle, be used exclusively for academic and sports-related activities; they should not be used for film screenings or other commercial events.

As part of the proposed steps for large-scale academic or sports events, institutions must notify local Education Department officials and the police in advance. This includes details such as the expected number of attendees, stage construction, entry and exit arrangements, and fire safety measures.

The government does not intend to intervene in smaller-scale events—such as those focused on sports, culture, or the arts—designed to showcase and encourage student talent, he added. However, for events involving hundreds of participants, educational institutions must take appropriate precautions and strictly adhere to government guidelines. The government’s evaluation and the creation of a new set of rules are intended to enable students in Telangana to excel in job creation, startups, and innovation.

Over the past three years, the government has launched initiatives such as the Young India Skills University, Advanced Technology Centres, 'Google for Startups,' an AI Innovation Hub, and the Telangana Innovation Startup Challenge.

Meanwhile, the management of certain educational institutions took a different approach by mandating that students watch specific films—even declaring holidays for this purpose—which drew sharp criticism from parents and educationists. The government has also taken this matter seriously.