Decision on PoSH panel to address sexual harassment complaints deferred, says filmmaker Lankesh
Bengaluru: The decision taken by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to form a PoSH committee headed by her to address sexual harassment complaints has been deferred, said filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh on Tuesday.
KFCC had constituted a 10-member Complaints Internal Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act on December 1, Lankesh told PTI.
Incidentally, Lankesh is the president of Film Industry for Rights and Equality , an organisation that fights for women's rights and against abuse in the Kannada film industry.
FIRE has been pushing KFCC to form a committee on the lines of Justice Hema Committee that has encouraged many women to come out with their complaints against sexual predators in the Malayalam film industry.
"We had a meeting, and it was decided that I would be heading the committee," added Lankesh.
But now she has been informed that the decision has been deferred pending the election of new office-bearers, she said.
"I have been told that KFCC will convene a meeting post the election on December 15 and will decide on the committee on December 16. But people I know have told me that there was stiff opposition among some of the KFCC members for appointing me as the head of the committee," said Lankesh.
Actors Pramila Joshi and Sruthi Hariharan were also part of the committee, she said. Others included Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum state coordinator Mallu Kumbar, women's rights activist Vimala K S, journalist Muralidhar Khajane, producer Sa Ra Govinda, playwright Shashikany Yadahalli and lawyer Rajalaxmi Ankalagi as well as KFCC president N M Suresh.
Suresh also confirmed to PTI that the decision had been deferred.
"I do not have the right to sign this order now as I am leaving the office. Since elections are underway, we decided to wait for the new office-bearers to take charge and then issue the formal order," said Suresh, refuting allegations that KFCC members are objecting to Lankesh being appointed as head.
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Belagavi: Miscreants break into house, stab pregnant woman
Belagavi: Miscreants reportedly broke into a house and stabbed a pregnant woman to death using a knife, in Chikkuda village of Athani taluk here on Sunday.
The deceased pregnant woman has been identified as Suvarna Mantaiah Mathapathy (35) of Chikkuda village. Suvarna was a mother of four daughters and was expecting her fifth child. She was due to give birth within the week, with the delivery date already scheduled by her doctor.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday when Suvarna's husband went to the plantation to fetch fodder for the cows, and their children were at school. During this time, the attackers broke into the house and struck Suvarna with a sharp weapon, and later fled the scene.
When her husband returned and called for her, Suvarna did not respond. Upon entering the house, he found his pregnant wife lying in a pool of blood. He rushed her to a nearby private hospital, but the doctor confirmed that she had died on the way due to her severe injuries.
The exact reason for the murder is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, a case in connection with the incident has been lodged at the Athani Police Station.
