Kochi: The Hema Committee report has unveiled alarming deficiencies in the provision of basic facilities for women working in the Malayalam film industry. The evidence presented before the Committee reveals that women are routinely denied essential amenities such as toilets and changing rooms, particularly during outdoor shoots in remote locations.

Witnesses testified that, in the absence of proper facilities, women are forced to improvise by using makeshift spaces such as forests, behind bushes, or near large trees for relief. Additionally, the lack of water at these locations exacerbates the situation, leaving women without even the most basic necessities.

"...What is being done now is that the women themselves will find some space in a nearby interior place, like a forest or behind bushes or a tree, to pass urine while on an outdoor shoot. At times, some cloth is being held by one or two persons to help the other to change dress or to pass urine. No water will also be available at the site," it says in report.

The report reveals that during menstrual periods, women often have no access to water or suitable facilities for changing or disposing of sanitary napkins. They are frequently forced to hold their urge for urination for extended periods and sometimes avoid drinking water to prevent the need to urinate. This practice has led to urinary infections and other health issues among female crew members.

A particularly distressing account from a junior artist highlights that she was denied access to a toilet by the production unit, despite the fact that reaching a suitable facility required a 10-minute walk. Such conditions have even led some women to seek medical treatment due to the severe physical discomfort caused by these inadequate facilities.