Thiruvananthapuram: The women actors in the state on Thursday formed a forum in the backdrop of the issues faced by them, including the abduction and rape of an actress in Kochi recently. Actor Manju Warrier also reportedly faced a threat on Wednesday.
The forum, Women in Cinema Collective, led by Manju Warrier, Beena Paul, Rima Kallingal, Parvathy and Vidhu Vincent called on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and sought steps to address the issues faced by women actors, especially sexual exploitation. The chief minister assured that a committee will be constituted to study their problems.
The forum demanded the formation of internal complaint cells in film sets to look into the charges of sexual harassment. The representatives said that women actors were denied the basic rights, including proper toilet facilities, in film sets. Saying that harassment was rampant, they demanded that Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act should be made applicable in the sets.
The collective also suggested that the government should offer subsidies to film projects that engage at least 30 percent of women as film crews. The services and welfare conditions for the film sector also need to be prescribed, they urged.
The chief minister offered police support to verify the credentials of those working in films. The forum hailed the action of the police in nabbing the accused in the kidnap and rape of the actress.
The other members of the team included Sajitha Madathil, Deedi Damodaran, Fousia Fathima, Ramya Nambeesan, Sayanora Philip, Anjali Menon, Asha Achi Joseph and Indu Namboothiri.
