Kannada Film Industry Given 15 Days To Implement POSH Measures

The Karnataka State Women’s Commission has taken a significant step towards ensuring the safety and rights of women working in the Kannada film industry. On September 16, the Commission called on the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to create an action plan to establish a committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act or provide reasons why such a committee cannot be formed. This directive is part of a larger effort to address sexual harassment issues within the industry.

Karnataka Women's Commission Gives Kannada Film Industry 15 Days To Implement POSH 

The Women’s Commission has given the Kannada film chamber a 15-day deadline to come up with an action plan for the formation of a POSH committee. The meeting, which was attended by the director of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) N M Suresh and filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh, focused on the importance of addressing harassment in the film industry.

According to Suresh, the Kannada film industry has yet to receive formal complaints from women within the sector. "Once they send these 17 demands as a letter, we will convene a meeting among us and discuss further. The point is, no woman in the Kannada industry has come forward to make a formal complaint against anyone to us so far. Neither has the women's commission any complaint from industry women lodged with them. So we will have to see if we really require a committee like the Hema committee. These things we will discuss soon," Suresh said.

FIRE's Petition for Change

The initiative to push for a POSH committee gained momentum after the Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE) submitted a petition to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The petition, signed by 153 industry professionals, demanded the establishment of a committee similar to Kerala’s Justice K Hema Committee, which uncovered instances of harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

The Hema Committee’s findings have sparked widespread discussion and calls for action in other film industries, including Kannada cinema. Kavitha Lankesh, president of FIRE, spoke about the ongoing battle to secure basic rights for women in the industry. 

"It is a small step in the battle for justice for women in the film industry. And today it really felt like we were in a battle even for this small gain," said Lankesh, reflecting on the challenges women face in raising their voices against harassment.

Survey to Gather Anonymous Testimonies

As part of the larger plan, FIRE also announced that it will conduct a survey among women working in the Kannada film industry. The survey will allow women to share their experiences of harassment or exploitation anonymously. This will provide a platform for women who are hesitant to come forward publicly due to fear of backlash or being belittled.

Lankesh noted that many women who have come forward in the past were either dismissed or asked to compromise. She emphasised that this has deterred others from reporting their own experiences of harassment. 

"Without even a helpline number, women or the workers, who are also exploited, had nowhere to go. Now, with all the pushing and prodding after the Hema Committee report was released, we have at least come this far," she added.

In the meeting, the Karnataka Women’s Commission presented a 17-point agenda aimed at combating sexual harassment and exploitation in the Kannada film industry. While the specifics of the agenda were not immediately available, it is expected to outline comprehensive measures for safeguarding women’s rights in the workplace.

Once the KFCC receives the official letter from the Commission detailing these demands, Suresh confirms that the industry will convene a meeting to discuss the next steps. The goal is to evaluate the need for a committee and implement strategies for creating a safer environment for women working in the Kannada film industry.