Hema panel report

THE Hema Committee Report has turned into a case of unmet promises and lost opportunities. What began as a hopeful initiative to bring justice and reform to the troubled Malayalam film industry has, unfortunately, devolved into a situation marked by inaction and evasion. The Kerala Government had established the Justice Hema-led committee led to investigate the abuse faced by women in Mollywood. Its report, which revealed pervasive sexual harassment and gender bias in the industry, was submitted to the government in 2019. However, it was only released earlier this week, with several pages redacted. This has sparked an outrage as the redactions raise questions about what is being withheld and why.

Despite the report’s damning findings and call for course-correction, it has languished in bureaucratic limbo, with key stakeholders showing a concerning lack of urgency. The absence of a follow-through undermines the trust of the women who opened up about their experiences and perpetuates a culture of impunity. Every day that passes without implementing the committee’s recommendations is another day that women in the industry remain at risk.

Taking note of the gravity of the situation, both the Kerala High Court and the state human rights panel have intervened, urging swift action on the report’s findings. The high court has admitted a PIL seeking the registration of criminal cases for sexual exploitation in the industry. The human rights panel’s advocacy for gender justice highlights the systemic failures plaguing the industry. The report should have been a catalyst for change. Instead, it stands as a reminder of the systemic barriers that continue to thwart the fight against sexual harassment and exploitation in the workplace. The time to act on its recommendations is now, before further harm is done.