Annie Raja, a member of the national secretariat of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), has expressed deep reservations about the Kerala government’s decision to hold a film conclave in Kochi in November.
On Friday, August 23, 2024, Mrs. Raja told Delhi reporters that it did not make sense to put victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse as recorded by Justice K. Hema’s Committee report on one platform and that this was contrary to natural justice.
This places her at odds openly with CPI(M). Annie clarified not being able to defend delay in releasing or acting on the report.
However, this was under consideration at Kerala High Court and she wouldn’t dare guess whether supporting evidence and statements given by those who appeared before the committee were strong enough to warrant suo motu registration of cases against them.
Ms. Annie seemed like she wanted to put this back into the hands of government. She said that women artists as well as technicians are substandardly treated within Malayalam cinema movies as well as serial sets. “Due to lack of safe lavatories women don’t drink water,” there is fear that they can be subjected since “outdoors” isn’t private”, added Ms Raja.
“Government should ensure gender equality at work place for women employed in entertainment industry; registration is just part of its mandate” replied Mrs Raja.
Agreement with UDF and WCC
The CPI seemed to have found common cause with UDF Opposition led by Congress and Women In Cinema Collective (WCC), an advocacy group which stands for gender equality and advocates for women rights in the movie world.
The Opposition and WCC had come together by arguing over why three days were set aside while so many issues on gender being brought up other than protection privacy rights in relation with witnesses appearing before Hema Committee were at stake.
“We will fight against the conclave,” Satheesan said. He described it as a mere formality by the government to cover up its failure to act on the report for five years by saying that there was no specific complaint from the institution. Mr. Satheesan remarked that this conclave would serve no purpose in covering up efforts of protecting the wealthy and powerful who lead Kerala’s film industry.
