The Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry is unhappy with private satellite TV channels for “showing children in vulgar, indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner” in dance reality shows or other such programmes.
The ministry has advised the private TV to desist from airing such programmes and also cautioned them to “exercise maximum restraint and sensitivity” while showing such programmes, according to a ministry advisory issued on Tuesday.
It said private TV channels telecast dance-based reality shows from time to time, in which, children between 5–10 years or of lesser age were shown dancing to popular Bollywood tunes or other local songs. The child participants enacted and imitated grown up actors, which included some inappropriate dance movements executed by kids. These gestures, dialogues and dance moves performed by the kids appeared to be suggestive and obscene for their age, the advisory signed by the director of broadcasting, I&B Ministry added.
The ministry said the channels were required to follow the provisions under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
As per Rule 6 (1) (l) of the Act, no programme should be carried in the cable service which denigrates children.
Moreover, Rule 6 (4) prescribes that care should be taken to ensure that programmes meant for children do not contain any bad language or explicit scenes of violence.
