Bengaluru, 6 Sept

Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has called for a meeting with women artistes to discuss sexual and other abuse prevalent in the industry on 16 September, a top office-bearer said on Friday.

The meeting has been convened after the Karnataka State Commission for Women asked the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to do so.

NM Suresh, president of KFCC told PTI, "The State Women's Commission asked us to convene a meeting on the 13 September, but because it is festival time, and also because people might be shooting and may need more time to adjust their schedules, we have tentatively called for a meeting on 16 September."

According to him, only on Monday, 9 September, they will know for sure when they will be able to hold the meet.

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued by Film Industry for Rights & Equality (FIRE) on Friday, it stated: "In response to our justified demand, Karnataka's Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has articulated that the Karnataka government will take strict action against perpetrators of casting couch."

FIRE, founded by actor Chetan Ahimsa in 2017, which is now being led by film director, screenwriter and lyricist Kavita Lankesh, has been pushing for reform in the Kannada film industry following the #metoo wave as well. PTI