Kerala government to form first-of-its-kind committee for women in film industry
Mumbai: On Thursday, a newly formed all-women organisation in Kerela called Women Collective in Cinema, made certain demands to the Chief Minister of Kerela, Pinarayi Vijayan, which includes inclusion of film industry under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and government intervention in eradicating pay disparity between men and women, among other things.
The committee has urged Vijayan to set up a sexual harassment redressal cell for every film that’s made and ensure the film has the aforementioned cell in place before its registered.
The first-of-its-kind organization has requested that the government institutes award for films that promote gender equality and provide insurance to pregnant women, those who have to skip work duo to ailments or child care. One of their demands was for the Kerela-govt to take steps in ensuring ample representation of women in films by means of reservation in government-backed post production facilities and give allowance to those films that include certain number of women in its team.
Although unregistered, the organisation seems to have taken it upon themselves to ensure safety of women working in the industry and protecting their rights. Vijayan, too, has given his word to set up a committee for addressing the grievances of women from film industry and would take corrective measures based on their recommendations.
Bina Paul, the editor of Women Collective, reportedly said, “The organization has not yet taken final shape. It will be registered soon. We feel that this government is sensitive to gender issues and will understand our problems. We are planning to bring the attention of the CM to some of the major issues faced by women in the industry.”
The objective of this organisation, Bina explains, is not to be an alternative option to the existing ones. “Our organisation will work within the contours of the various film organisations that are in place and in which we are members,” she added.
