Women’s Forum for Screen Workers issues a charter signed by likes of Swastika Mukherjee, Daminee Benny Basu, Sohini Sarkar; Demands safety of women in workplace

The RG Kar rape-murder incident has shaken Bengal to its core. People from every sphere of society have come out demanding justice for the victim and her family. Moreover, the common people of the city have taken to the streets demanding the safety of women, queer people, non-binary folks, and marginalised communities.
Women’s Forum for Screen Workers has called to ensure safety and dignity for women in the workplace and issued a charter of demands signed by more than 50 artists and technicians including the likes of Aparna Sen. Swastika Mukherjee, Daminee Benny Basu, Saswati Guhathakurta, Rituparna Sengupta, Sohini Sengupta, Rupa Ganguly, Bidipta Chakraborty, Sudipta Chakraborty, Paoli Dam, Sohini Sarkar, and others.
The charter of demands says, “In the wake of this heinous crime, it is heartening to see that the entertainment industry, being theatre artists and technicians, musicians, makeup artists, dancers & choreographers, screenwriters, Television, Web platforms, Film artists and technicians, and more are taking to the streets in fervent protests. However, it is indeed striking that some of us are yet to take a stand against the recurring incidents of sexual abuse/harassment/violence within our own workplaces. As women working in the Bengali Film, Web platform and Television industry, we face various kinds of sexual abuse every day; as well as regularly hear of the rampant abuse faced by women, children, and those of marginal identities.”
Women’s Forum for Screen Workers reached out to various film bodies through a letter enlisting their demands for a safe workplace for them in the Bengali entertainment industry. Daminee Benny Basu, the spokesperson for the Forum exclusively told ETimes, “We are extremely triggered right now with the RG Kar hospital case. If we turn and look into our own workspaces, and I belong to the entertainment industry, we can ask the same question. We belong to the unorganised sector and we are protesting for the sector which is the most celebrated. But look at the condition of the health sector. It is like a can of worms! And we are scared. The unorganised sector is essentially feudal in structure. And the #MeToo discussions have been happening for the last five years but nothing has been done about it.” Benny added, “Neither there is a functional support system in place to enable us to demand the Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment under the existing laws of India, "nor any open conversation about the recurrent incidents of sexual abuse of women, children, and other extremely vulnerable people working in this industry.”
Daminee also said that they were enquiring all welfare organizations about various acts like POSH and POCSO and if it is in place in the industry. She said, “We are questioning the statutory structure for posh and POCSO, if it is in place. And also the need for intimacy directors or coordinators, a certain way of handling gender-based violence, and a 24/7 helpline for victims and survivors which will be an effective tool for whistleblowing against sexual harassment. Also to ensure that the identity of the survivor is not revealed.” She added further, “The most important thing is spreading awareness about it as so many things get passed just in the name of naïve, innocent jokes. Things like sexual innuendos, and certain touches are taken for granted. Look at what has happened in RG Kar. Nobody is thinking twice before victim-blaming the doctor, including the chief minister of the state.”
When asked in conclusion about the working culture in Bengal, Benny said with a hint of bitterness in her voice, “It is extremely feudal! Even while signing this charter of demands, women are raising fingers at others.. ‘you have signed it but you have been an enabler’ and things like that. But nobody understands that you are doing what our CM is doing to us.”