Hema Committee Report, Background, Key Findings and Recommendation

The Hema Committee Report is a significant document that highlights the deep-rooted issues of sexual harassment and gender discrimination faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

Commissioned by the Kerala government in 2017 after a shocking sexual assault case involving a prominent Malayalam actress, this report reveals the systemic challenges that women in the industry encounter. It also provides insights into why many women choose not to go to the police and offers recommendations for improving their working conditions.

Why the Hema Committee Was Formed?

In 2017, Kerala witnessed a tragic and highly publicized incident where a well-known actress was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle in Kochi. This incident exposed the grim reality of what many women face behind the glamour of the Malayalam film industry.

The backlash from the incident led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and the Kerala government’s decision to establish the Hema Committee. The committee, headed by Justice Hema (retired) and other key members like K. B. Valsala Kumari (former IAS officer) and Sharada K. (retired member of the Women’s Commission), was tasked with investigating the extent of harassment and abuse in the industry and recommending solutions.

Key Findings of the Hema Committee Report

The Hema Committee Report reveals numerous alarming issues faced by women working in the Malayalam film industry. Some key findings include:

Prevalence of Sexual Harassment

• The report highlights that sexual harassment is rampant in the Malayalam film industry, and this is one of the biggest challenges women face. Harassment ranges from unwanted advances and inappropriate comments to coercion and assault.
• The infamous casting couch culture, where sexual favors are demanded in exchange for work, was also widely reported. Actress Parvathy Thiruvothu, in an earlier interview, had spoken about the existence of the casting couch, which was met with online trolling and backlash, showing how normalized such behaviour had become.

Reluctance to Report Crimes

• Despite facing criminal offences that could be charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and POSH Act (Sexual Harassment at Workplace Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal Act), women often remain silent.
• The report explains that many women do not go to the police because of the stigma associated with sexual harassment and the fear of public scrutiny. The report also points out that survivors, especially those in the public eye, become targets of cyber-attacks and victim-blaming, which dissuades them from speaking out.

Power Dynamics and Industry Control

• The film industry is controlled by a powerful lobby of men, which makes it difficult for women to report abuse. These men often have the influence to ensure that internal committees meant to address sexual harassment remain ineffective.
• The Internal Committees (ICs), which are mandatory as per the POSH Act, were either absent or dysfunctional in many cases. Even when ICs were established, they failed to act impartially due to the pressures exerted by influential figures in the industry.

Examples of Systemic Failures

• One of the notable examples is the case involving actor-producer Vijay Babu, where the IC in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) failed to take action after a woman accused him of rape. Babu managed to evade arrest, secure bail, and return to work while the survivor continued to face public scrutiny and backlash.

Why Women Do Not Report Sexual Harassment

One of the most crucial aspects of the Hema Committee Report is its explanation of why women choose not to report incidents of sexual harassment. The reasons include:

• Fear of Controversy: Public figures fear that filing complaints could lead to unwanted controversies, making them targets for gossip, cyber abuse, and media sensationalism.
• Lack of Support: Women often find themselves without proper support from the film community, with influential figures siding with the accused rather than the victims.
• Victim-Blaming: The report highlights how survivors often face victim-blaming from society, where their clothes, behavior, or relationships are scrutinized rather than focusing on the crime itself.
• Legal Limitations: Even when women muster the courage to report, they often see little progress. Accused individuals are usually released on bail quickly, while survivors continue to face social and professional setbacks.

Recommendations of the Hema Committee

The Hema Committee made several recommendations to tackle the issue of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry:

1. Establishment of Functional Internal Committees (ICs): The committee recommended the formation of Internal Committees on film sets and within production houses to monitor and address complaints related to harassment, in compliance with the POSH Act.
2. Grievance Redressal Mechanisms: The report urged the creation of an independent grievance redressal system to ensure that complaints of harassment are addressed impartially, without the interference of powerful industry figures.
3. Training and Awareness Programs: There was a call for regular gender sensitization programs and legal awareness workshops to educate the film fraternity about gender equality, consent, and workplace harassment.
4. Support for Survivors: The report also emphasized the need for support systems for survivors of sexual harassment, including counseling services, legal aid, and protection against online abuse.

Impact and Reactions

The Hema Committee Report has sparked important conversations about the safety of women in the film industry. It has also led to calls for systemic reforms to ensure that women can work in a safer environment, free from harassment and abuse.

However, there have been challenges in implementing these recommendations due to resistance from powerful figures within the industry. The report has faced criticism from some quarters, including actors and producers, who have questioned the necessity of such reforms. Despite this, the report is a milestone in the ongoing fight for women’s rights in the Malayalam film industry.

Conclusion

The Hema Committee Report is a crucial step in addressing the rampant issue of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. Its findings reveal the deep systemic issues that women face and why many remain silent despite enduring abuse. The report’s recommendations offer a roadmap for creating safer workplaces, but its true impact depends on the collective will of the industry and society to implement meaningful changes.

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