Following the recent allegations of sexual misconduct against some actors, Producers Guild of India has come out with a statement expressing its commitment to ensuring a safe working space for everyone. A meeting was convened on Tuesday and a special committee formed to address the issue of sexual harassment at workplaces within the industry.
The Producers Guild Of India has come out with a Media statement saying that they are committed to making the work place in the industry safe space for everyone. pic.twitter.com/tUvObFnudC
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) October 10, 2018
Headed by Sneha Rajani, Deputy President and Head of Sony Pictures, the committee consists of 12 members, seven of them women. It includes leading studio executives such as Siddharth Roy Kapur of Roy Kapur Films, Kiran Rao of Aamir Khan Productions, Apoorva Mehta of Dharma Productions and Rohan Sippy.
The committee decided to serve members of the Guild with guidelines pertaining to sexual harassment that are to be implemented at the workplace. The Guild has decided to organise specialised workshops with the aid of professional agencies in the coming months to help members deal with sexual harassment in the most efficient manner, both in offices and on the sets.
In a statement issued on October 9, the Guild said that it extended its complete support to the #MeToo movement that called out and reported sexual harassment taking place in the industry.
media statement
The ongoing movement had forced various organisations in the entertainment industry to sit up and take note of sexual malpractices prevalent in the industry. Earlier, The Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) had responded to the sexual harassment claims raised by Tanushree Dutta against Nana Patekar and the rape accusations against Alok Nath raised by two actresses.
Sushant Singh, the general secretary of CINTAA, extended his complete support to the women who have come forward. Singh, also an actor, said that his organisation will be issuing show-cause notices to both the accused actors.
Dear @vintananda I am so so sorry. As @CintaaOfficial a show-cause Notice will be sent to @aloknath first thing in the mrng, why he shudnt b expld. Unfortunately we’ve to follow the due process. I urge u to file a complaint against this vile creature, we extend u full support.
— sushant singh (@sushant_says) October 8, 2018
Meanwhile, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees – an umbrella body for various film workers’ associations – held a press event in Mumbai on Wednesday announcing its support for India’s #MeToo movement. According to a Scroll report, Ashoke Pandit, the Chief Advisor of the body, was quoted as saying: “The Federation, which consists of lakhs of people, has taken this issue very seriously. We are concerned about the issues raised regarding the dignity and security of women in the industry.”
The Federation said it had sent notices to film personalities accused of sexual misconduct, including Alok Nath, Nana Patekar and Vikas Bahl, and will boycott them if they don’t respond. They have been given 10 days to respond to a show cause notice, failing which the unions will boycott them.
The Federation, which has 24 cinema associations under it, including the Indian Film and Television Director’s Association, Western India Cinematographers Association and the Screenwriters Guild of India, is to also shortly set up a redressal committee to look into sexual misconduct and abuse, with three members from each association.
