Children participating in talent shows work for more than 12 hours besides there are constant rehearsals for various promotional programmes for which private channels get a lot of mileage, according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
“Most of them work for more than 12 hours. Giving the plea that the children are getting mileage out of the shows and making name for themselves is just not enough. There should be proper guidelines that requires to be followed by this channels,” NCPCR Member Sandhaya Bajaj said.
The atmosphere and condition in which these children are serving for so long is very important. The participants are also involved in performing off-screen since they are being recognised widely for their on-screen performances, the Commission said, adding it is scanning all these aspects.
The Commission want proper schedules for rehearsals and breaks for the participants. The conditions in which these talents shows are being conducted is another cause of concern for the Commission.
“We will work on it to find out how the children commute and how they are being kept on outdoor shoots. These are vital and important aspects that organisers need to look at,” Bajaj said.
Keeping this in mind, the Commission has requested the Labour Ministry to consider putting reality shows on child talent under the purview of the Child Labour Act.
The Commission will meet Labour Ministry officials soon to decide on the various legal aspects before summoning the producers and directors involved in the show.
“We are very serious about the whole issue....by the third week of June, the Commission is planning a meeting on the issue with the Labour Ministry to find out a solution,” Bajaj said.