The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has drawn up new guidelines for TV serials and reality shows using children.
It was the stuff of TRP dreams for many a television channel: Children crying inconsolably after being ousted from a reality show, parents watching dejectedly, the audience clapping in sympathy.
All this may, however, soon be a thing of the past. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has drawn up new guidelines for TV shows using children. Under these guidelines, no child below the age of seven will be allowed to participate in TV shows and serials.
The NCPCR had received several complaints last year about shows like Boogie Woogie, Chak De Bachche and Little Champs. But what made it sit up and take note was an incident in June when a participant in a Bengali music reality show suffered a breakdown after being rebuked by the judges for her performance and had to be admitted in hospital.
The NCPCR set up a committee of 12, including teachers and directors, to decide on guidelines for the participation of children in TV serials and reality shows. "We will submit the guidelines to the women and child development ministry," said Sandhya Bajaj, who headed the committee.
Do you think the new guidelines will help to improve the conditions of child artistes? Or do you think they are unfair to those children who will not be able to take part in TV shows?
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