Hema Committee Report Reveals Shocking Details

The Kerala government revealed the much-awaited Hema Committee Report on August 19 at 2:30 pm. It brings out shocking revelations. As per the report, women face extreme discrimination in the industry. The report, which was earlier supposed to be released on August 17, was postponed after actress Ranjini’s plea. The government released only 233 pages of the report, excluding sections that could infringe on the privacy of the individuals mentioned.

Also Read: Kerala Government Releases Hema Committee Report

Revelations and suggestions of Hema Committee Report: 

•  It said women are forced to make compromises to get the roles. Those who compromises are known by code names, and are called cooperating artists. It also suggests about the existence of casting couch.
• The report revealed that actresses were forced to do intimate scenes and if denied, are threatened. Those who defy have to face cyber-attacks. It said scenes are taken repeatedly, as a punishment to those refused to do it.
• Reportedly, female workers had to keep away from drinking water since there were no washroom facilities.
• The report recommended that drugs and alcohol should be banned from movie locations. It asks producers to make ensure women working in films to have safety in their accommodation including toilet facilities, and travel.
• The report asks for procedures that would prevent from keeping workers with criminal background, including on posts such as drivers.
• It recommends to prevent the abuse of women through fan clubs, and asked to create a tribunal to handle industry-related issues.
• It asks to prohibit the banning of individuals within the industry by others.
• The report asks to refrain from using derogatory languages towards women, and ensure equal payment for female artists.

Also Read | What Is Hema Committee Report

The Hema Committee was established by the Kerala Government in 2017 in response to a petition filed by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), to investigate the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The report was submitted on December 31, 2019. The State Information Commission (SIC) subsequently approved a plea under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) to publicly release portions of the report, provided that personal information was redacted.