Justice Hema Committee report

News Excerpt:

The Kerala High Court has ordered the state to place before it in a sealed cover the entire Hema Committee report, including sections redacted for confidentiality. 

More about the News:

  • This order comes while the court considers a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding the initiation of criminal proceedings against the offenders named in the report.
  • The Justice Hema Committee report was released by the Kerala government four-and-a-half years after it was submitted to the Chief Minister. 
  • The report provides a damning indictment of the discrimination and exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

Formation of the Justice Hema Committee:

  • The Justice Hema Committee was formed in 2017 by the Government of Kerala to study and report on the working conditions, safety, and other issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.
  • Its formation came in the wake of increasing concerns about the treatment of women in the film industry, particularly after a high-profile case involving the assault of a prominent actress in 2017.
  • The committee was tasked with examining various aspects of the film industry, including pay disparities, working conditions, safety measures, and the prevalence of sexual harassment.
  • The committee conducted extensive interviews with people working in the film industry, including actors, technicians, and other staff members.
  • While the full report has not been made public, it's understood that the committee made several recommendations to improve the working conditions and safety of women in the film industry.

Reasons Behind the Delay in Releasing the Report:

  • The Kerala government has justified the delay, citing the sensitive nature of the information contained in the report and the associated privacy concerns. 

What does the Hema Committee report say?

  • A culture of sexual harassment pervades the Malayalam film industry. 
    • The Committee reported the existence of casting couch (wherein powerful men demand sexual favours from women in return for opportunities in films), 
    • Frequent suggestive and vulgar comments made by men at the workplace, and 
    • Drunk male co-actors forcing themselves into rooms of women, among other things.
  • A fear of retribution prevents sexual harassment from being reported. 
    • “Many who were examined before the committee were afraid to reveal things which they experienced.
    • Beyond direct retribution, the report also mentions the fear of cyber harassment, especially from toxic fan clubs, as a means by which women are forced into silence.
  • An all-male “mafia” of influential actors and producers calls the shots across the industry, and wields their power with impunity. 
    • “No man nor woman dare to utter any word which may offend anyone belonging to the power group, because such a person will be wiped off the industry by the powerful lobby”.
  • A male-dominated industry has failed to offer even basic facilities to women, including the lack of toilets and changing rooms on sets. 
    • The report says that women staff on film sets continue to remain at the mercy of open spaces or shared bathrooms to relieve themselves, often risking UTIs and hospital admission.
  • Lack of gender parity with respect to remuneration is primarily due to the absence of written contracts.

Conclusion:

The release of the Justice Hema Committee report has reignited discussions about the treatment of women in the Malayalam film industry, calling for urgent reforms to address these systemic issues.

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