The
Indian
Film
&
Television
Directors'
Association
(IFTDA)
on
Saturday
said
they
have
joined
hands
with
leading
casting
directors
to
prevent
cases
of
molestation
in
the
film
industry.
In
a
letter,
sent
to
three
major
producers'
organisations,
the
IFTDA
stated
that
it
has
come
up
with
an
"innovative
plan" to
prevent
"rampant
cases
of
women
molestation".
The
letter,
which
has
been
sent
to
the
Producers
Guild
of
India,
the
Indian
Film
and
TV
Producers
Council
and
the
Western
India
Film
Producers
Association,
has
been
issued
by
IFTDA
president
Ashoke
Pandit.
"We
wish
to
inform
you
that
seeing
the
rampant
cases
of
women
molestation
giving
a
bad
name
to
the
film
industry,
an
innovative
plan
was
envisaged
by
us
to
nip
the
evil
in
the
bud.
The
most
well-known
eminent
Casting
Directors
got
together
under
the
umbrella
of
Indian
Film
&
Television
Directors'
Association
IFTDA,
with
the
solemn
and
poignant
pledge
to
eradicate
this
evil," the
letter
read.
The
IFTDA
further
informed
that
their
executive
committee
has
formed
a
separate
division
of
casting
directors.
"This
move
was
spearheaded
by
most
reputed
casting
directors
Mukesh
Chhabra,
Honey
Trehan,
Vicky
Sidana,
Shruti
Mahajan
and
Shaarika," it
said.
"It
is
our
humble
request
to
you
to
take
on
board
only
IFTDA
Casting
Director
members
for
assurance
of
safety
to
women
working
in
different
crafts
of
filmmaking," the
letter
said.
IFTDA
also
requested
casting
directors
to
become
bonafide
members
of
their
association
to
jointly
fight
for
the
honour
of
women.
"Our
staff
will
give
utmost
cooperation
to
your
member
Producers.
Be
a
part
of
our
movement
for
the
safety
of
all
genders,"
it
said.
For
women
in
distress
or
facing
harassment,
help
available
in
India
at
the
following
helpline
numbers:
Central
Social
Welfare
Board
-
Police
Helpline:
1091/
1291,
(011)
23317004;
Shakti
Shalini-
women's
shelter:
(011)
24373736/
24373737;
All
India
Women's
Conference:
10921/
(011)
23389680;
Joint
Women's
Programme:
(011)
24619821;
Sakshi-
violence
intervention
center:
(0124)
2562336/
5018873;
Nirmal
Niketan
(011)
27859158;
JAGORI
(011)
26692700;
Nari
Raksha
Samiti:
(011)
23973949;
RAHI
Recovering
and
Healing
from
Incest.
A
support
centre
for
women
survivors
of
child
sexual
abuse:
(011)
26238466/
26224042,
26227647.