Latest news with #HemaCommittee
India Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Actor Parvathy slams Kerala government's inaction on Hema Committee's findings
Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu has criticised the Kerala government for its prolonged inaction on the recommendations of the Hema Committee report, which was submitted over five years ago to address systemic issues in the Malayalam film an Instagram story, Parvathy directly questioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the status of the committee's suggestions. 'Now can we focus on the ACTUAL reason this committee was formed? Putting policies in place to help make regulations in the industry?' she a pointed remark on the delay, she added, 'No need to rush as it's ONLY been 5 and a half years since the report was submitted.' Parvathy's comments come amid local news reports suggesting that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing cases linked to the Hema Committee is preparing to close them. However, the SIT has not officially confirmed this and is yet to submit its report to the SIT had earlier informed the court that some individuals who recorded statements before the Hema panel were now reluctant to proceed with complaints. The court responded that there was no need to compel anyone to continue and said they must reply to notices from the SIT if they choose not to give further editor and Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) member Bina Paul echoed concerns over the government's inaction and reiterated that the Hema report addresses more than just individual think it should be understood that the Hema committee report is not just about sexual harassment and if some of the people have decided to not move forward with the cases, it's understandable, but there are many who are moving ahead with it,' Paul added, 'The report has brought up many issues that remained unaddressed in the industry. I think we would like to see those recommendations being implemented.'Referring to the state government's efforts to draft a film policy, Paul acknowledged the process has stalled. 'It's definitely a slow process. There were many consultations, they met many people and we were also consulted. We are definitely disappointed that it is taking a lot of time but we do think that it will happen. Unfortunately, the person who headed it passed away, so there is a delay.'Despite the setbacks, Paul noted some cultural progress. 'Definitely there are changes. Five years ago, nobody was talking about women. Now at every level of the industry, there is genuine interest at least to talk about it. It was an invisible issue till now. She has made recommendations and they are trying to implement as much as possible as far as I can see.'advertisementParvathy, meanwhile, declined to comment further. 'I don't want to speak further on it for now,' she said.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Parvathy Thiruvothu slams Kerala CM over inaction on Hema Committee report: ‘Can we focus on the actual reason?'
The Justice Hema Committee Report, which was released last year, created ripples for highlighting the widespread and persistent sexual harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry. On Monday, actor Parvathy Thiruvothu called out the administration's delay in implementing necessary steps to address the cases that were detailed by the report and tagged Kerala CM in her Instagram Stories. (Also read: Parvathy Thiruvothu on Justice Hema Committee Report findings: 'It took so many years') Taking to her Instagram Stories, Parvathy tagged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. She went on to add, 'Now can we focus on the ACTUAL reason this committee was formed? Putting policies in place to help make regulations in the industry? What is happening with that? No rush, eh? It's only been five and a half years since the report was submitted.' On June 3, a report from The Hindu stated that the Kerala Police decided to drop the cases which had come up from the Hema Committee report which had detailed sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. 'According to official sources, despite repeated summons by both the SIT and the court, the survivors declined to provide statements in connection with the cases,' added the report. The Hema Committee report put the spotlight on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry and came with shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment being faced by women. The report stated that female actors faced harassment, including instances where the doors of their rooms were knocked on by intoxicated individuals in the film industry. In fact, many of the women expressed reluctance to complain due to fear. It also reported a lack of basic amenities such as toilets for women, adding that junior artists are treated 'worse than slaves in Malayalam cinema'.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
34 of 35 Hema report cases closed; cops cite survivors' reluctance
A special investigation team investigating the cases of sexual assault based on the Hema Committee report in Malayalam film industry has highlighted inability to carry out proceedings in over 30 cases due to reluctance of survivors to testify against the accused, a senior police officer said on Monday, citing a report submitted to the Kerala high court. In an action draft report, the SIT has informed courts that proceedings in 34 cases have been paused due to the non-cooperation of the survivors, the officer, who is a member of the SIT, said. The SIT, said that the police have faced roadblocks, particularly in one set of FIRs registered on the basis of anonymous statements mentioned in the Hema panel report. 'We filed 35 such FIRs... The names of those testifying and the accused were struck off citing privacy. But based on circumstantial evidence, signatures, and the details in those accounts, we were able to identify around 10-12 survivors,' the police officer said requesting anonymity. 'However, despite repeated requests and the court sending notices to them at least three times, they have shown reluctance to reveal further details, name the accused or proceed legally. Most of them have not even given statements before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC,' the officer said, adding that a charge sheet has been filed in only case so far. The charge sheet pertains to a case of sexual assault allegations against a Kottayam-based hair stylist. Most of the cases pertain to abuse that took place many years ago which makes it hard to collect details and evidence without the cooperation of the survivors, the officer said. 'One reason that the survivors cited was that the incidents took place a long time ago, and that they did not wish to rake up bad memories, especially when they currently lead peaceful family lives,' the officer said. A second reason, he said, was the fear of backlash in the film industry that could lead to them losing opportunities if their names are revealed. 'They had spoken to the Hema panel members with the understanding that they did not want to pursue those episodes legally,' the police officer said. The SIT has expressed willingness to re-open the probe if survivors begin to cooperate. Meanwhile, in 25 of at least 80 cases, where survivors were willing to testify following publication of the Hema report, the police have filed charge sheets, the officer said. 'These are complaints of women who openly spoke about the sexual abuse and discrimination they faced in the film industry through social media and other avenues. Out of the 80 FIRs, 25 have been charge-sheeted, and we are continuing proceedings in the rest of the cases. 99% of them would reach the courts. We are doing our best to collect all relevant evidence in these cases, including email communications, WhatsApp chats, photos, and videos,' the officer said. The Hema committee report, released in August last year, documented systemic sexual abuse of women actors and technicians within the Malayalam film industry, the presence of an all-male 'power group' that issues unofficial and illegal bans, widespread wage-related disputes and poor treatment of junior artists on film sets. Following the release of the report, several women levelled sexual abuse allegations against prominent actors and industry figures. Several actors, directors and technicians were named and arrested by the SIT as part of its probe into the sexual abuse cases. Following the report, a 19-member committee of the influential Malayalam actors body AMMA was disbanded and actor Mohanlal resigned as its president. In September last year, the Kerala HC taking cognisance of it had directed the SIT to check if there were any offence, cognizable or not, mentioned in the report and take action on it.
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Parvathy Thiruvothu criticises Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan over delay in implementing Hema Committee reforms
Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu has sharply criticised the Kerala government for its inaction over the long-pending Hema Committee report, calling out the administration's failure to implement promised reforms more than five years after the report's submission in 2019. Taking to Instagram, Parvathy tagged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a story that read: 'Now can we focus on the actual reason this committee was formed? Putting policies in place to help make regulations in the industry? What is happening with that? No rush, eh? It's only been five and a half years since the report was submitted.' The Ullozhukku actor's remarks come at a time when reports have surfaced that the police intend to drop the remaining cases registered based on the Hema Committee's findings. Of the 35 cases initially filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), 21 have already been closed. The remaining 14 are also likely to be withdrawn, with police citing the complainants' unwillingness to pursue legal proceedings.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Hema Committee report: No headway in probes; police decide to drop cases as survivors stay silent
The Kerala Police have decided to drop the cases that emerged from the Hema Committee's findings on sexual exploitation and the misogyny within the Malayalam film industry. The move to file Further Action Dropped (FAD) reports in the 35 criminal cases follows the inability of the special investigation team (SIT) to gather sufficient evidence, compounded by the non-cooperation of survivors. According to official sources, despite repeated summons by both the SIT and the court, the survivors declined to provide statements in connection with the cases. G. Poonguzhali, Additional Inspector General of Police and nodal officer for the probe, pointed out that while the FAD reports have been filed in 21 of these cases due to a complete lack of progress, the remaining 14 cases are also likely to be dropped temporarily. 'Not permanently closed' 'These cases are not being permanently closed,' the officer clarified. 'We have incorporated provisions that allow survivors to come forward at any point, which would enable us to reopen investigations. However, in the absence of cooperation, we have hit a legal and procedural dead end.' She added that the SIT had issued three rounds of notices, and the court had also summoned the survivors thrice without any response, making further investigation impossible under the circumstances. Despite this setback, police investigations into nearly 70 other cases, registered after the public release of the Hema Committee report and survivor disclosures, are ongoing. Of these, charge sheets have already been filed in nearly 25 cases. Notably, prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry, including MLA M. Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpillai Raju and Ranjith, have been named in the submitted charge sheets. The Hema Committee was constituted in 2017 following growing demands from women in the film industry for systemic reform and protection from harassment.
