New Malayalam movies submitted before the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) for receiving the publicity clearance certificate will now require a mandatory report from the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) functioning in film production sets.

The minutes of the meetings held by the ICC need to be enclosed along with the request for getting the publicity clearance certificate. The move forms part of the film chamber’s efforts to ensure the proper functioning of the committees as per the provisions under the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act), 2013.

Anil Thomas, president of KFCC, said that the publicity clearance certificate issued by the film chamber is a pre-requisite while submitting the movies for censoring. “From now on, the clearance will be given after receiving the report submitted by the ICCs on film sets. Our intent is to comply with the norms under the POSH Act by ensuring the proper functioning of the ICCs,” he said.

The KFCC, which recently held a workshop aimed at creating awareness about the Act and the functioning of ICCs in locations for the industry representatives, has suggested that the producer, director and production controller of a movie need not be part of the ICC for better transparency and impartial functioning of the body.

“Instead, the four-member ICC on each location has to be led by a senior woman member on the set. It should have a lawyer to provide guidance on the legal provisions related to the POSH Act and how to address a complaint effectively,” said G. Suresh Kumar, chairperson of the KFCC’s 27-member monitoring committee formed to address and combat the abuse of women in the film industry. He said that the ICCs on each set need to hold at least two meetings – one at the start of the shooting and the other before concluding it – and submit a compiled report to the KFCC.

The film chamber has also asked the film bodies to empower its members about the powers and functioning of the ICCs and POSH Act by holding awareness programmes.