THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in a statement issued on August 27, has welcomed the release of the Hema Committee report which has painstakingly conducted an inquiry into the shocking atrocities against women in the film industry. It is the first time that a state government has formed a committee to study the malpractices in the film industry and harassment that women have to undergo. It is a known fact that women working in the film industry are victimised everywhere. But except in Kerala, such an intervention has not been made by any government to take steps to give justice to the women victims. AIDWA commends the efforts made by the LDF government in Kerala to help the women complainants.

After the release of the Hema Committee report, many women working in the film industry have come out fearlessly and are openly speaking about their ordeals. AIDWA expresses total solidarity with all the women who have experienced such traumatic situations and will also help them avail legal support in their struggle for justice.

In 2017 too, AIDWA strongly condemned the attack on the actress and held protests all over the state. It firmly stood with Ati Jiveta and rendered all support in her difficult days. Later, the Women Cinema Collective was formed and it submitted a petition to the Kerala chief minister for taking action against the serious complaints by women working in the film industry. As a result of this, the governmental level Hema Committee was formed to study the problems of women in the film industry.

The Kerala LDF government has appointed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate these allegations so that appropriate action can be taken. AIDWA welcomes the immediate steps taken by the state government towards identifying and penalising the accused to stop this exploitation of women. It is disgusting that the opposition is trying to take political mileage instead of aiding the process of gender justice, which will compound the trauma of the victims.

The Kerala state government has affirmed its commitment towards taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for women in the film industry. We are sure that it will implement the recommendations of the Hema Committee report in consultations with all the stakeholders. This will help in building confidence in the women in the film industry that henceforth they would not have to suffer agony at the hands of their tormentors. The formation and functioning of the Internal Complaints Committees must be strictly implemented as per the POSH Act. This has now become a movement for cleaning up the Malayalam film industry. AIDWA and the women of Kerala stand with the women in the film industry.