Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the alleged sexual exploitation of women in the Telugu Film Industry raised by a Television Anchor turned actress of Telugu films.
As per media reports, the actress has been questioning the State government and the Movie Artists’ Association ( MAA) of the Telugu Film Industry on the absence of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) due to which, she asserts that no female can represent and seek redressal of her grievances, if there is any sexual harassment at the work place. The NHRC has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, tantamount to inaction of the part of the State government. The Commission is of the opinion that the reported prohibitions imposed on the actress barring her to act in the films and stopping others to work with her are violation of her right to livelihood and live a life with dignity.
Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The state authorities are expected to intimate about the available/proposed mechanism to the deal with the subject, according to an NHRC release.
The Commission has observed, the issues raised by the actress demand action on part of the State government in the form of a committee to address and redress the grievances of the female actors and women employees, in case of any sexual harassment at the work place i.e. Telugu Film Industry, in this case.