Hema panel: NCW team speaks to victims from the Malayalam film industry today

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) A month after the explosive Hema Commission report was released and over a dozen Malayalam film stars are facing trial, a two-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) will arrive here on Thursday to record statements of victims.

The NCW committee is open to statements from people involved in the film industry and will hold its meeting here.

Incidentally, soon after the report was published and more than a dozen FIRs were registered after former actors and actresses filed complaints of sexual harassment with the police, the NCW had sought a copy of the report, but it has not yet been received.

Shortly after the report was published on August 19, the NCW said in an official press release that the committee had made a number of “concerning findings” in the Hema committee report, which pointed to a number of “serious problems” including “workplace harassment, gender discrimination and other forms of exploitation that negatively impact women in the Malayalam film industry.”

“In response to these concerns, the NCW has taken steps to request the full report of the Hema Commission, as it appears that only parts of it are currently publicly available.

“The Commission is committed to continuing its efforts to address these issues with the appropriate authorities, to ensure that women’s rights are upheld and that a safe, fair working environment within the industry is promoted,” the statement said.

The Hema Commission report on working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry is based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals.

Shocking details are revealed about the exploitation of women, including the existence of the casting couch and poor working conditions.

The NCW team arrives at a time when top actors, including two-time CPI(M) legislator Mukesh, former general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists Edavela Babu and ace director VK Prakash, have been arrested and released after being granted interim bail.

Meanwhile, lead actor Siddique, whose bail plea was rejected by the Kerala High Court, is on the run and has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. His plea is expected to be heard on Thursday.

Now all eyes are on the NCW meeting and it remains to be seen whether any of the victims will appear before the committee.

A special investigation team of Kerala police has now started its work, under the watchful eye of a special two-member bench of the Supreme Court. The SIT is scheduled to submit its report on the action taken on October 3.

Source: IANS

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