Kannada film industry given 15 days to implement POSH plan

Bangalore:The Karnataka State Women’s Commission on Monday asked the Kannada Film Commission to either prepare an action plan for setting up an anti-sexual harassment commission or provide reasons why it cannot be done.

Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) Director NM Suresh and filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh, who attended a meeting in this regard, confirmed the committee’s direction to the chamber.

During the meeting that KFCC held with female artistes a few days ago, as ordered by the State Commission for Women, the former was given 15 days to come up with an action plan for setting up a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace) committee or give reasons why it is not possible.

“It’s a small step in the fight for justice for women in the film industry. And today it really felt like we were in a fight for even this small win,” said Lankesh, president of Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE), who was present at the meeting.

Incidentally, FIRE was the driving force behind the Kannada film industry when it got 153 artistes to sign a petition to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on September 4, asking for a commission on the lines of the Justice K Hema Commission. Its report had exposed cases of abuse and harassment of women professionals in Malayalam cinema, sparking outrage.

According to Lankesh, it has also been decided to conduct a survey among women in the sector so that they can come forward with their problems anonymously if they wish.

Suresh said the organisation will look into the demand for implementing the POSH Act in the Kannada film industry and set up a panel, for example in the form of the Hema Committee.

During the meeting, the Women’s Commission presented a 17-point agenda to address sexual and other exploitation of women in the industry.

“Once they send these 17 demands as a letter, we will hold a meeting and discuss further. The point is that so far no woman in the Kannada industry has come forward to file a formal complaint against anyone with us. Also the women’s commission has not filed a single complaint of women in the industry with them. So we will have to see if we really need a commission like the Hema commission. We will discuss these things soon,” Suresh said.

Lankesh says women who have come forward so far have either been belittled or asked to compromise, which has deterred others.

“Without even a helpline number, women or the workers, who are also being exploited, had nowhere to go. Now, with all the pushing and prodding after the Hema committee report was released, we have at least come this far,” Lankesh added.

Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary could not be reached.