The Cine & TV Artistes’ Association on Wednesday unanimously supported the survivors of the #MeToo movement with the announcement to methodically address sexual harassment complaints. Senior members of the body’s executive committee addressed the press about various issues, primarily the #MeToo movement cases. Presiding over the meet was CINTAA president Vikram Gokahle; general secretary, Sushant Singh, senior joint secretary Amit Behl; joint secretary Rajeshwari Sachdev; and Treasurer Deepak Qazir Kejriwal.
Mr. Singh said that although sexual harassment is rampant in most sectors, the entertainment industry has been singled out on social media. He also thanked the ‘flag bearers’ of the movement but admitted that #MeToo is being hijacked by fake news. “The result is that the real survivors will be discredited,” he said. “The real culprits [including those] powerful names will get a clean chit. Do not make one-sided allegations into news. Verify the accounts and give us both sides so that as public, we can make a decision.”
“We need to move away from denial and address wrong doings methodically, step by step in order to weed out the [perpetrators]. Please name and shame the ones who have not been spoken about,” he added.
While addressing the exploitation faced by up and coming actors, Mr. Singh said that CINTAA would have to work with the Producers Guild of India to address the issue. Further, a verified list of casting agents and casting producers would have to be created. Plus, he declared CINTAA’s support for Vinta Nanda and Flora Saini (who accused producer Gaurang Doshi of physically abusing her). Both Mr. Singh and Mr. Behl talked about some of the #MeToo cases but refused to comment about actor Tanushree Dutta’s accusations against actor Nana Patekar citing it as sub judice.
Some of the reforms as part of the association’s future course correction include forming a committee within CINTAA to address sexual harassment with members such as actors Raveena Tandon and Renuka Shahane, journalist Bharti Dubey, filmmaker Amol Gupte and others. A sub-committee with actor Swara Bhaskar, lawyer Sana Hakim, partner at POSH at Work (prevention of sexual harassment), psychologist Brinelle D'Souza, and other non-CINTAA individuals will also be formed.
There will be counselling sessions with therapists who will keep the identity of those seeking help anonymous, workshops – such as the one with lawyer and human and women’s rights activist Vrinda Grover – campaigns, videos, and think tanks to create awareness about sexual harassment.
Further, a symposium to address the issue with other bodies and unions in the entertainment sphere is proposed along with posters to raise awareness along with CCTV cameras at sets, studios, etc.
Taking the opportunity to also address the deplorable working conditions of actors in the television industry, Mr. Singh talked about fire drills, health and safety, over-worked child artistes and unfair remuneration. As a solution, CINTAA appealed to the government to give the entertainment sector an ‘industry status’ and draft laws to offer central guidelines in terms of standardisation of working hours and safety regulations. Finally, Mr. Singh appealed for more support from CINTAA members’ and veteran actors to keep the #MeToo movement and its course-correction alive.
