Hours after the damning Justice K Hema Committee Report on the conditions of women working in the Malayalam film industry, containing shocking revelations on how women in the film industry are being sexually exploited, was finally released on Monday, Kerala's Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government for keeping this report in cold storage since 2019. Justice Hema (retd) submitted her report in 2019 after being appointed by the Vijayan government in 2017 and it cost the state government Rs 1.50 crore.
However, it was only after a long-drawn legal battle that the report was released on Monday, even amid last-minute attempts to delay the release. "This is a grave crime done by the Vijayan government and we wish to know why was this report kept in cold storage. Was it to save those who did the exploitation? The need of the hour is a special police probe team headed by a top woman IPS official and bring to book all the wrong-doers, whosoever they are and wherever they are placed," said Satheesan.
Incidentally, state Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian said he has been the Minister for the past over three years and to date, no complaint of any exploitation has come before him. "Now a report has been published and it speaks of such things, but I am ready to order a probe if there is any complaint. I wish to inform all that no one needs to be worried and any woman coming with a complaint will face no duress," he said.
"We are holding a conclave in.