Implications of Hema committee report: Samantha Ruth Prabhu urges Telangana government to release sub-committee report
Samantha Ruth Prabhu. | Photo Credit: PTI-
Appreciating the efforts of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu urged the Telangana government to release the report of the sub-committee on sexual harassment. Modeled after WCC, The Voice of Women, a support group for women in the Telugu film industry (TFI), was created in 2019.
“We request the Telangana government to release the sub-committee report submitted on sexual harassment, which can help formulate government and industry policies to establish a safe working environment for women in TFI,” the actor wrote on Instagram.
“We, the women of the Telugu film industry welcome the Hema Committee report and applaud the relentless efforts of the WCC in Kerala, which paved the way to this moment,” she added.
Also read:Justice Hema Committee Report: A timeline of events so far
On Thursday (August 28, 2024) Samantha expressed her support for WCC’s relentless efforts to advocate for a safer and more equitable work environment for women in the industry. “Over the years, I have followed the incredible work of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in Kerala. Their journey was anything but easy. Now, as the serious implications of the Hema Committee report have come to light, we owe the WCC a debt of gratitude,” he said.
The K Hema Committee report on women’s problems in the Malayalam film industry, released on Monday five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government, has revealed a horror story of sexual exploitation, illegal prohibitions, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wages. Discrimination and in some cases, inhumane working conditions.
On the back of reports, allegations of sexual harassment by multiple women have rocked the Malayalam film industry. Kerala Police registered an FIR against veteran actor Siddiqui for rape and criminal intimidation while actor Jayasuriya and actor-legislator Mukesh were booked for sexual harassment.
Also read:Mass resignation of women in cinema collective AMMA executive committee ‘a cowardice’
Amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment and mistreatment by women against its members, the Malayalam Artistes Association (AMMA) with president and superstar Mohanlal disbanded. Apart from Samantha, prominent actors Khushbhu and Swara Bhaskar spoke about the issue expressing the need for protection of women in the film industry.
