The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a pro-women outfit in Malayalam film industry, on Monday reiterated its demand that the report prepared by the Justice Hema Commission should be published.
The WCC made its stance clear after State Industries Minister P Rajeev said the organisation did not want the committee report to be published.
The Justice Hema Commission was assigned to prepare a report on the issues faced by the women working in the film industry. There have been calls to publish the report from various corners, but the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has withheld it citing that it contains confidential statements and testimonies. The government has, however, stated that it is committed to implementing the recommendations made by the commission. Rajeev reiterated the claim while speaking at an event organised by the Indian Express on Sunday, but the WCC came out on Sunday saying the minister seem to have misunderstood its demand.
Rajeev said that WCC did not want the committee report to be published but wanted the recommendations mentioned by the committee to be implemented. “Justice Hema Committee Report was not tabled in the assembly as the committee was not appointed as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The identity of individuals who gave testimonies before the committee cannot be revealed and WCC also supported this decision of the government and the Hema committee. The priority is to implement the recommendations made by the committee,” Express quoted Rajeev as saying.
Reacting to this, WCC member and screenwriter Deedi Damodaran said the collective's stand has always been that the report should be published.
“We have raised our concerns over confidential statements being publicised, however, the report contains not only such statements,” she told reporters. On the minister's remarks, she said, “I think there was some miscommunication. Neither the minister nor the government has opposed the WCC's stances (on gender issues). Otherwise, such a committee would not have been possible,” she said.
WCC posts letter
After media reports about Rajeev's statement came out, the WCC clarified the matter in a Facebook post.
“WCC has taken very seriously the Hema Committee and the report it has submitted. When we observed that in spite of so much money, time and effort spent on the report there was no action, WCC approached various government agencies. We raised our voices and concerns regarding the silence from the side of the Government. It is not enough to produce recommendations without the context of the findings. The case studies (removing the names and other details of the survivors) which have led to these recommendations must be known. Setting up committees and discussions on the recommendations is not enough. The public needs to know the basis on which these recommendations have been made. It is also important that we know if the Hema Committee has endorsed these recommendations,” the post reads.
The collective posted a letter it had submitted to the minister at a meeting on January 21. In the letter it has clearly stated that it wants the government to publish a summary and the recommendations of the report.
The WCC said it will be participating in the meeting called by Minister of Culture Saji Cherian on May 4 “with the hope and belief that change is imperative”.
Cherian, however, on Monday said the report cannot be publicised. “Justice Hema herself has instructed not to publicise the report. I can't understand why some people are adamant that it should be revealed,” the minister said.
National Women's panel steps in
The National Commission for Women on Monday said the report should be made public.
"The chairperson will conduct a direct inquiry if the government does not hand over the report. Those who have given statements to the commission also have a right to see the report,” NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
The Justice Hema Commission was constituted to study the issues faced by the women in Malayalam industry after the sexual assault of an actor in February 2017. The commission submitted its report to the government on December 31, 2019.
