On Maneka Gandhi's request, seven top Bollywood production houses form anti-sexual harassment cells

New Delhi: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said on 16 July that seven Bollywood production houses have accepted her request to form panels to deal with cases of sexual harassment, and urged 17 others to follow their lead. She also urged the production houses to submit a report about the internal complaints committee set up by them. [caption id=“attachment_4756321” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi (C) speaks during a press conference in New Delhi on 17 May, 2016. AFP/Money Sharma[/caption] In 2017, Gandhi had asked Bollywood filmmakers to comply with the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 and set up committees to hear complaints. She had written to 24 production houses, including actor Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Karan Johar’s Dharma Production, to form an anti-sexual harassment cell. Citing a media report, Gandhi said on 16 July that it was encouraging that seven production houses have accepted her request and complied with the sexual harassment law. “I expect the other producers to ensure similar compliance at the earliest,” she said. According to the media report cited by her, the seven production houses that have formed a sexual harassment committee are Yashraj Films, Aamir Khan Production, Mukta Arts, Excel Entertainment, Phantom Films, T-Series and Drishyam Films. “As responsible employers, all are obliged to follow the law of the land. I urge the Bollywood production houses to do so and submit a report on the internal complaints committee set up by them. Together, we need to ensure a safe workplace for our women,” Gandhi said. The ministry has said Bollywood filmmakers are ethically and legally accountable for the safety of not only their direct employees but of all outsourced and temporary staff as well. It has mandated all workplaces with more than 10 employees to set up an internal complaints committee.