NEW DELHI: The Government has asked all television channels to protect the identity of children in need of care and protection and juveniles in conflict with the law.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has said that all news and current affairs TV channels are required to abide by the provisions contained in the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994. Rule 6(1)(l) provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which denigrates children. Thus, the channels are already required to carry the programmes involving children with due care, maturity and sensitivity.

Accordingly, all news and current affairs TV channels have been asked to ensure compliance of the directives of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as also the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules while telecasting any content involving children.

Any violation will entail stringent action as per the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, rules promulgated thereunder and the terms and conditions of uplinking and downlinking guidelines.

The NCPCR was set up in March 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005 to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative mechanisms are in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Any person contravening these provisions is also liable to penalties, as prescribed under the provisions of Section 21 (2) of the Act.

The commission has recommended that necessary directives/set of protocols be issued to the entire print and electronic media to refrain from publishing the names, pictures, home address, school address and other parameters of their identity of such children who need to be reported upon by media on account of certain circumstances including difficult circumstances. As such disclosures only tend to leave their imprint and affect the social and mental health of children in their crucial stage of development.

NEW DELHI: The Broadcast Content Complaints Council, a self-regulatory body of non-news television channels, has advised TV channels to strictly adhere to and comply with the guidelines to ?Regulate child participation in TV serials, reality shows and advertisements 2010-2011? issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

In its 15th meeting on 13 July, the BCCC headed by Justice A P Shah had held wide-ranging discussions on the issue of participation of children in television reality shows and similar programmes.

In its guidelines in October-November last year, NCPCR had among other things said reality shows on television featuring children should not be competition based and no child should be exposed to ridicule, insult or discouragement, harsh comments or any behaviour that could affect his/her emotional health.

In the case of TV shows with abuse, violence, death etc. as the subject matter, where a child can come under stress or there are child actors, producers should ensure that a child psychologist/counselor should be available on call.

In extensive guidelines to regulate child participation in TV serials, reality shows and advertisements issued by the NCPCR and sent to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, it has been stated that no child should be cast in a role or situation that is inappropriate to the child or that may distress him/her or put him/her in embarrassing situations. Consideration has to be given to the child?s age, maturity, emotional or psychological development and sensitivity.

The guidelines say no child should be shown to be imbibing alcohol, smoking or any other substance use or shown to be indulging in any sort of antisocial activity and delinquent behaviour. No child should be engaged in any situation involving nudity (either of the child or another person). No child should be put in distressing situations to obtain a more realistic depiction of an emotional reaction. In programmes based on victims of child abuse, the content should be sensitively handled and the way children are projected should not harm or risk their welfare.

The NCPCR which functions under the Women and Child Development ministry says no child should be made to perform or enact scenes or mouth dialogues that are inappropriate for his/her age or those that may cause him/her distress.

The Child Welfare Committee may monitor production conditions; programme content and other such provisions recommended by NCPCR and keep the Women and Child Development Ministry as well as the Information and Broadcasting Ministry informed on issues related to violation.

Participation of children in scenes depicting violence whether verbal or physical should be avoided.