Samantha noted that the report can help frame government and industry policies, to establish a safe working environment for women in the TFI.
Published Aug 31, 2024 | 1:54 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 31, 2024 | 1:54 PM
Samantha Ruth Prabhu. (Samantha/ Instagram)
In the wake of the Hema Committee report, Telugu actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Friday, 30 August, speaking on behalf of The Voice of Women— a support group for women in the Telugu Film Industry demanded the Telangana government to release the sub-committee report submitted on sexual harassment to the government.
Taking to her Instagram stories, applauding the persistent efforts of Women in Cinema Collective, she wrote: “Taking a cue from the WCC, The Voice of Women, a support group for women in the TFI, was created in 2019. We hereby urge the Telangana government, to publish the submitted sub-committee report on sexual harassment”
Samantha noted that the report can help frame government and industry policies, to establish a safe working environment for women in the TFI.
The sub-committee formed in 2019, submitted its report to the then BRS government in 2022.
According to a report by The Print, the sub-committee comprised over 25 members from within the industry, the women’s development and child welfare department, the labour department, the police department and SHE teams, a division of Telangana Police dedicated to women’s safety.
Meanwhile, Amala Paul speaking to the media on Saturday, 31 August, in Kochi, expressed her shock and concern over the finding of the Hema Committee report.
“Very disturbing and shocking things emerged from the Hema Committee report. I hope there will be justice for this,” Amala said.
She also said that the momentum generated by the report should be maintained and the issues raised should be addressed.
“There was a strong group, the WCC, who worked tirelessly to bring this report to the public. They weren’t alone in this effort; they had the support of the legal system as well,” the actress said.
The publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry has opened a can of worms with several female actors stepping forward with disturbing accounts of the mistreatment they faced at the hands of their various male counterparts.
The Kerala government constituted the Justice Hema Committee after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with the inputs from Arjun Ramachandran)
