Justice Hema Committee Report

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/Social Issues

Context

• The Justice Hema Committee report exposed pervasive sexual exploitation and rights violations against women in the Malayalam film industry. 

About

• Five years ago, the report was submitted to the Kerala government.
• The committee identified at least 17 forms of exploitation experienced by women working in 30 different categories within the industry.
  • Key issues included the casting couch, lack of basic amenities, and threats against filing complaints.
• The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of “casting couch” in the industry. 

Background

• The three-member committee, consisting of retired High Court Justice K. Hema, former actress Sharada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, was established in response to a demand from the Women in Cinema Collective. 
• This demand followed the abduction and sexual assault of a leading female actor in 2017—a case that remains in trial, with prominent actor Dileep listed as the eighth accused.

Major Concerns

• Producers are warned by the industry’s “power group” not to cast actors who fall out of favour with them. 
• Even the release of movies can be prevented as the Film Chamber of Commerce has to issue NOC. 
• The report highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet facilities on the set, especially in outdoor locations, leading to urinary infection for many women. 
• Junior artists are in some cases “treated worse than slaves” with work extending up to 19 hours. 
• The lack of a written contract is exploited by some to deprive the actors and technicians of even the remuneration promised orally. 
• Another alarming finding is that many men assume that women willing to perform intimate scenes on-screen are also willing to do so off-set, reflecting a lack of professionalism and understanding of the craft among men in the industry.

Way Ahead

• The release of the Justice Hema Committee report marks a critical moment for the Malayalam film industry, as it confronts long standing issues of exploitation and gender inequality. 
• The findings call for urgent attention from civil society and industry leaders to address and rectify these deep-seated problems.
• The Hema Committee report recommends setting up a civil court-like tribunal to deal with serious issues faced by women employed in the Malayalam film industry.

Source: TH