The report on harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry was submitted on December 31, 2019
More than two years after the Hema Commission report was submitted to address the issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry, the state government has yet to make the report public or take any action.
The commission constituted after the actor attack case submitted the report to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019. Members of the Women in Cinema Collective who have not yet seen the contents of the report question the lack of transparency. About the report to which many women in the industry have given detailed testimony of the harassment they have faced.
Filmmaker Anjali Menon, member of the WCC, said it is important to disclose the list of findings as any recommendations have to be seen in the context of these findings.
“Why don’t they list the findings officially? While our focus is on knowing what is happening here, around whom is their biggest concern. When the issue was raised in the Assembly, a word like ‘e-toilet’ was used. Recommendations of the WCC were mentioned, which did not address the plight of the women working here. An extreme case of sexual harassment inspired all of us to come together and lead to the formation of the WCC. Our best effort would have remained the same. Let this not happen again in the industry. Five years after that incident, are we sure it will not happen again? The film industry comes together for everything, but outside the WCC, almost everyone is silent on these issues, Ms Menon said. Hindu,
The three-member committee headed by Justice K. Hema said that the government is working on its implementation.
“As far as I know, the government is moving towards implementing the recommendations of the report. The COVID-19 pandemic could be one of the reasons for the delay. Some serious issues in the industry cannot be resolved without enacting a statute and setting up a tribunal for the industry. In addition to sexual abuse, there are many other issues that are very serious, including informal sanctions. The issues concerned not only women or actresses, but also many men working in the industry and other categories of people. This report is also meant to protect those who will be involved in the industry from practices like casting couch. The contents of the report need not be made public as there is sensitive material which was confidentially disclosed to the committee by both women and men,” said Justice Hema Hindu,
Film editor and WCC member Beena Paul said she was puzzled as to why the report was not discussed at any level, if the government was acting on it.
“We are not suspecting, but thinking about the lack of transparency. If they are taking action on it, why are they not taking advice from industry stakeholders? There is no communication on this, Ms. Paul said.
According to Ms Menon, the non-transparency around the report is not an independent phenomenon, but should be seen in the context of other issues such as non-implementation and plight of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in the industry. Survivors, for whom the WCC got together.
“The Department of Women and Child Development has to ensure that the POSH Act is implemented and punitive action is taken against those who refuse to comply with the law by canceling the license to levy fines. None of these are being investigated. When we say we want a professional space, it won’t be just for women. Men will also have a safer and more professional space. We want women to continue working without the fear of constant harassment or discrimination or humiliation or assault,” she says.
After the Women’s Commission in Maharashtra took a tough stand, the Producers Guild of India has taken steps to ensure that the film is being shot in compliance with the POSH Act. Although it is now being followed in film sets in Mumbai, the people of Kerala seem to be moving away from it.