Information and Broadcast Ministry concerned about inappropriate representation of kids in the reality shows

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) issued an advisory for private television channels to ensure that children are not portrayed in an inappropriate way while performing in thr reality TV shows.

According to the Programme & Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks, all private satellite TV Channels are expected to abide by the provisions contained in Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed.

As to the rules and regulations, the programme TV should not embrace any content which distress children, and further that programmes meant for children should not contain any bad language or any kind of scenes which consists of violence, the advisory read.

“These moves are often suggestive and age-inappropriate. Such acts may also have distressing impact on children, impacting them at a young and impressionable age,” a ministry release said.

“The Ministry has accordingly issued an Advisory to all private satellite TV channels to avoid showing children in indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner in dance reality shows or other such programmes. The channels have been further advised to exercise maximum restraint, sensitivity and caution while showing such reality shows and programmes,” the release said further.

Similar issue was raised by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), a self-regulatory body for the industry.

Some of the popular dance reality shows for children on the private channels include Dance India Dance Little Masters (Zee TV) and Super Dancer (Sony TV), in which children aged from 4 and 13 participate.