The Karnataka State Women’s Commission has written a letter to the district administration against the Film Chamber for their failure to form an Internal Committee (IC) despite being provided an extended deadline. The commission had intensified its efforts to ensure the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) establishes an IC under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act. After multiple extensions sought by the KFCC, the Commission has now informed the district administration.
The Women’s Commission initially issued a 15-day deadline on September 16 for the KFCC to form an IC or provide valid reasons for its failure. This demand aligns with mandatory requirements under the PoSH Act, which seeks to safeguard the rights and welfare of women in workplaces, including the film industry.
The push for such a committee in Sandalwood follows the release of the Hema Committee report on the Malayalam film industry, which exposed rampant sexual harassment and inadequate working conditions. This report fuelled demands for similar oversight mechanisms in other film industries, including Kannada cinema.
While the KFCC has written to the Women’s Commission twice requesting deadline extensions, there has reportedly been no concrete progress. In a letter sent on September 18, the Commission sought a detailed action plan for forming an IC and on the safety, rights, and welfare of women working in the Kannada film industry.
Efforts to form a PoSH committee have also faced resistance within the Kannada film industry. TNM had reported that many women attendees in the meeting called by the commission faced difficulty in expressing their views. Some were reportedly silenced during the meeting.