The Hindu : National : Panel to go into conditions of children working in TV serials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Panel to go into conditions of children working in TV serials

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the increasing incidence of violation of child rights, the government is setting up a committee to look into the conditions of children working in television serials, reality shows and advertisements.

The decision comes after Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury asked the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights to look into the issue as guidelines were not defined and children were compelled by parents to work for long hours. The committee will comprise members from the Labour and Women and Child Welfare Ministries, the child rights panel and civil society organisations.

Speaking at a function held here on Thursday to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, Ms. Chowdhury said there were many laws to protect animal rights but no one cared about children who worked like animals in studios.

“If I had my way, I would recommend capital punishment for those who robbed children of their childhood.”

The Minister was particularly critical of urban people who employed children as domestic help and said when the government focussed on verification of servants, the police should not only ascertain the individual’s criminal antecedents but also find out his or her age.

Ms. Chowdhury said there should be flexibility in age limit to ensure that anyone who wanted to be enrolled got school admission. She would discuss the matter with the Union Human Resource Minister and also write to the State Education Departments. In her inaugural address, Child Rights Commission chairperson Shantha Sinha said that considering the profound impact education could have on a child’s development and overall growth, the violation of child’s right to education must be recognised as a violation of human rights.

The media coverage of teenager Aarushi, who was found murdered in Noida last month, came under strong criticism from civil rights groups. At another event, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi described suggestive advertisements, MMS clips and objectionable visuals on television as a growing “dangerous trend” in the media.

Addressing students at the 41st convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, he said though he believed in free media, “freedom demands responsibility... But unfortunately with the growing competition among media companies, unhealthy competition is threatening all journalistic norms and values.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National