Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Kerala Government for Delaying Hema Commission Report on Malayalam Film Industry
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 20: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticized the Kerala government for delaying action on the Hema Commission report, which addresses issues within the Malayalam film industry. Tharoor described the delay as “utterly shameful” and “shocking.”
Tharoor stated, “It’s utterly shameful and shocking that the government sat on this report for nearly five years and now, under duress, they’ve had to release it. They’re simply not willing to face the consequences. It seems to me that it is absolutely indispensable that action be taken. The state government ought to be ashamed of itself.”
The Thiruvananthapuram MP emphasized the importance of the Malayalam film industry, which has a nationwide and worldwide reputation with well-known directors and artists. He called it “unforgivable” to see such an industry tarnished by creating an unsafe working environment for women through acts of intimidation and blackmail.
Tharoor further added, “It takes a lot for a woman to come and give a complaint, and those women who have come and given a complaint have taken, in very many ways, their own reputation and their own careers into their hands, but they’ve done so because they believe it’s important that these facts be aired.”
Former Minister of State V Muraleedharan also commented on the situation, calling it “serious” and demanding the resignation of state cultural minister Saji Cherian. Muraleedharan stated, “Cinema and cultural affairs minister Saji Cherian and former minister AK Balan had severe lapses in taking actions against those who committed sexual harassment, including POCSO charges. Concerned people had tried to protect the culprits. Cultural minister Saji Cherian should resign from his post.”
The Justice Hema Committee report, released on August 19, documents harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women in the Malayalam cinema industry. The 235-page report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals, reveals shocking details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions. The report highlights the need for urgent reforms to protect women in the industry.
Doubts Revealed
Shashi Tharoor -: Shashi Tharoor is a famous Indian politician and author. He is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Congress party.
Kerala Government -: The Kerala Government is the governing body of the Indian state of Kerala. It makes decisions and laws for the state.
Hema Commission Report -: The Hema Commission Report is a document created by a group led by Justice Hema. It talks about problems like harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.
Malayalam Film Industry -: The Malayalam Film Industry is the part of Indian cinema that makes movies in the Malayalam language, which is spoken in Kerala.
Congress MP -: A Congress MP is a Member of Parliament from the Congress party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
V Muraleedharan -: V Muraleedharan is a politician who was a former Minister of State in India. He is asking for the resignation of another minister.
Saji Cherian -: Saji Cherian is the state cultural minister of Kerala. Some people are asking him to resign because of the delay in the report.
Justice Hema Committee -: The Justice Hema Committee is a group led by Justice Hema. They studied and reported on issues in the Malayalam film industry.
Harassment and Exploitation -: Harassment and exploitation mean treating someone badly or unfairly. In this case, it refers to how some women in the film industry are treated.
Reforms -: Reforms are changes made to improve something. Here, it means making the film industry better and safer for everyone.
