Hours after India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) acted on Telugu actress Sri Reddy’s allegations of sexual exploitation, the Movie Artists’ Association (MAA) lifted a ban on her.
It also announced a Committee Against Sexual Harassment would be set up, which would meet once in three months.
MAA President Shivaji Raja said the committee, comprising senior actors and filmmakers of the Telugu film industry, would look into the complaints of sexual harassment.
Earlier in the day, the NHRC sent notices to the Telangana government and the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry over Reddy’s allegations.
The rights body took note of media reports about the allegations raised by Reddy and a lack of grievance redressal mechanism for women in the film industry.
Reddy created a sensation by resorting to a strip protest against the casting couch in Tollywood in front of the office of Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce on April 7.
She also questioned the Telangana government and MAA on the absence of a committee sgainst sexual harassment.
MAA had dismissed her allegations and declared that she would not be given its membership under any circumstances. It also said that action would be taken against any artiste who would share screen space with her.
Following the Commission’s observation, MAA President said they had no grudge against Reddy but since her allegations hurt the artistes, it was decided to impose the ban.
He said all 900 members of MAA were free to work with Reddy.
