Bengali Film Industry Demands Safer Workplace

Over a hundred female artistes from the Bengali film industry have written to the state-run Tele Academy, urging for a safer workplace following the rape-murder incident at RG Kar hospital. The letter highlights the rampant sexual abuse within the industry and calls for strict measures and better occupational safety and health standards.

In the wake of the recent shocking rape-murder of a doctor at RG Kar hospital, over a hundred female artistes connected to the Bengali film industry are demanding a safer workplace. They wrote to the state-run Tele Academy, Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA), and West Bengal Motion Picture Artistes Forum, highlighting the urgent need for safer working conditions.

Signatories of the letter include notable names such as director Aparna Sen and actors Rupa Ganguly, Swastika Mukherjee, among others. The letter emphasizes the rampant sexual abuse faced by women in the industry and the lack of a functional support system to prevent and address such issues.

Issued by the Women's Forum for Screen Workers, the letter also points out the significant gap in information, access, and advocacy regarding occupational safety. The artistes are calling for the establishment of statutory structures, creation of safe workspaces, and a robust whistle-blowing mechanism to combat sexual harassment in their sector.