Malayalam journal effectively covers up actor, a prime accused in sexual crime: Petition

By A Representative
Anna MM Vetticad, film critic and journalist, and author of “The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic”, has circulated the text of an open letter to the women's magazine “Vanitha” – which is part of Kerala’s largest media group, Malayala Manorama group -- condemning the decision to put actor Dileep on its cover despite the fact that he is “accused of being the primary conspirator in the Kerala actor rape case.”
More than 650 people (activists, artists, academics, mediapersons) signed it, including many Network of Women in India (NWMI) members. The petition demands that Malayalam Manorama withdraw its latest issue of “Vanitha”.
In an email alert, Vetticad said, “The outrage is about a cover photograph on the magazine of a prominent Malayalam actor accused in a molestation case. On the cover he is seen with his family.”

She added, “The photograph effectively covers up the fact that he is a prime accused in a sexual crime against a woman colleague.”
Vanitha, that translates as woman, is a fortnightly magazine published by Malayala Manorama. The Malayalam edition of the magazine has a readership of over of 2.27 million, making it the highest read magazine in India.
The petition asks addresses the Kerala government to hold consultations on the Justice Hema Commission report and implementation of its recommendations. The commission was set up by the Government of Kerala to study the issues of gender disparity, security and sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry.

“The commission submitted its report in December 2019 but the government has neither had discussions or made it public”, Vetticad said.
Stating that the reforms recommended by the commission would have far-reaching implications for all working women, it draws attention to the need for IC’s (Internal Committees as per the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, POSH) in all film production companies in order to ensure safety and security of women.
The signatories include prominent persons like Aparna Sen (filmmaker), Susie Tharu (academic), Suhasini Mulay (actor), Nilima Sheikh (artist), Maya Rao (theatre activist), Githa Hariharan (writer) and others. “All signatories have pledged their support to the women who are at the forefront of this struggle for a safe and conducive working environment for all professionals”, said Vetticad.
---
Click here for the petition

The “Dr” debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Can cow dung become a source of income? Durga Maida shows the path to self‑reliance

By Vikas Meshram* In the Sailana block of Ratlam district lies the small village of Govardhanpura. This is where Durga Maida lives with her husband and four daughters. Their livelihood depended on just one bigha of land—far too little to feed a family of six. Growing enough grain for the year was impossible, and even meeting daily expenses was a constant struggle. Alongside farming, Durga kept livestock and took up wage labour whenever she could. Hard work was never lacking, but income always was. Month after month, the accounts failed to balance, forcing her to borrow. Looking back, Durga says those days felt heavy and hopeless; farming offered no promise, and there was no sign of change. Her story mirrored the reality of almost every small farmer in the area.

Counterview

Search This Blog