Hema Committee report kicks up political storm in Kerala

The Justice Hema Committee report which exposed the shocking harassment and sexual exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry sparked a political storm in Kerala on TuesdayWhile the opposition parties criticised the Left government for its silence and inaction over the past four years despite receiving the report the government affirmed its support for the victimsThe Congressled UDF questioned whether the government had kept the report confidential to shield the accused and alleged the Pinarayi Vijayan government was siding with the hunters rather than the hapless victimsComing down heavily on the government and Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan the BJP charged they had failed to take any legal action against the accused despite receiving information about the crimes committed by the themHowever the government rejected the charges and made it clear that they had already started measures to implement the recommendations and suggestions made by the CommitteeThe government is always with the victimsand with the women community Saji Cheriyan told reporters hereStating that no particular name has been heard in connection with the report the minister said it was the High Court and the Information Commission that had decided which portions were to be releasedCheriyan said the government would discuss all aspects of the report and would take further action in the necessary areasIt was Justice Hema who had first said that the report should not have been published because of its confidential nature the minister said adding that a proposed cinema conclave to be organised by the government would discuss all these issuesHowever the ministers reply didnt go down well with the opposition Congress and BJP which raised suspicions about whether the government had kept the report confidential so far to protect the accusedLeader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan alleged the government was trying to protect the privacy of the accused and asked the authorities to register a case based on the Hema Committee reportSexual exploitation including assaults under the POCSO Act had happened Still the Cultural Affairs Minister is saying that a film conclave will be held to discuss the issues Satheesan told reporters in Chempazhanthy near hereLet the people of the state evaluate a cultural affairs minister who speaks about conducting a conclave when such serious offences have been reported he addedSenior BJP leader and former union minister V Muraleedharan attacked Cheriyan and said the cultural affairs minister had also become part of the crime by not taking any action over the report so farSaji Cheriyan has no moral right to continue in his position The Vijayan government has failed to protect the rights of women and children and ensure safe living conditions in the state he told a press conference hereWhen reporters sought his reaction actorturnedpolitician and Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said he didnt read the report but was sure the government would take necessary action in this regardNo one in the film industry has complained to me so far If anyone comes to me with such an issue I would have raised my voice for them he saidWhile senior CPIM leader K K Shailaja wanted stringent laws and comprehensive reforms in the film industry to curb such crimes against women CPIM central committee member A K Balan indicated the governments legal limitations in registering cases based on the reportThe shocking revelations of the Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry evoked strong reactions across society with demands for stringent actions to ensure a safe working atmosphere and equal treatment for women professionalsBased on the suggestions of the Hema Committee the Womens Commission will recommend to the government to take the necessary steps to ensure grievance redressal committees as per the POSH Act in shooting sets womens panel chief P Sathi Devi said on MondayPOSH Act stands for Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Prevention Prohibition and Redressal Act 2013Welcoming the release of the report Women in Cinema Collective WCC an outfit of women professionals in the industry expressed hope that the government would take all necessary steps to study and act upon the recommendations The WCC has been pressing for a long time to address the issues being faced by women in the Malayalam film industry and seek necessary interventions by the government to ensure gender equality thereIt has been a long journey for us We believed that our fight for justice for all women wanting a dignified professional space in the film industry was the right fightWe stand vindicated Publication of the Hema Committee report is another step that WCC has taken it said in a Facebook post on MondayThe muchawaited report released on Monday has recorded explosive accounts of harassment exploitation and illtreatment of female professionals in the film industry and alleged that a criminal gang was controlling the industry where unyielding women are squeezed outThe Kerala government constituted the panel after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinemaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever