Criminal Case Will Filed Against Producers And Channels Violating Federation Rules Says FWICE President B N Tiwari

Last month, a crew member from the sets of the show Savdhaan India died in a bike accident after working for nearly 19-20 hours. The deceased name was Pramod Kalekar who was an Assistant Art Director on the show being produced by Rajesh Tripathi.

The shoot for the show was immediately stopped by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The federation ordered Rs.50 Lakhs to be paid to the family of the deceased but the amount was finally consented on Rs 20 Lakh.

FWICE has now come forward to give warning to Producers and Channels with regards to the violation of the shooting rules laid by them. President Mr. B N Tiwari spoke to News Helpline about the same and said, “Whatever happened was very sad. Value of a person’s life cannot be measured monetarily but we have now decided that if any of the employees of the federation dies in an accident, then the membership of his card will be passed on to his/her family member free of cost. Family members will be given work according to his/her calibre in any department but the membership will be transferred free of cost.”

Making strict rules for over-timing at the shooting sets, he said, “We have been getting complaints for over time. What we suggest is that after 8 hours, a new unit should be put to work. We understand there is pressure of delivery and we stand by the producers and channel. But a second unit should be put to work after the 1st shift gets completed. Criminal cases will be filed against producers and channels who will violate the rules of the federation.”

Talking about bringing a change in the delivery process of the shows, he said, “We will be sending letters to the Producers and Channels to first chalk out a plan of any show and then finalise the telecast date. As of now, they keep cut to cut dates for shoot and delivery which will have to be changed. We will stop these activities on an immediate basis.”