Hyderabad, April 24: Innocence is being sacrificed on the altar of commerce and cheap fame, and the evil nexus between TRP-hungry TV channels and pushy parents sees little ones gyrating suggestively before cameras to popular “item numbers’’.
On Friday, a petition was filed and submitted to the State Human Rights Commission Chairman B Subhashan Reddy by city-based social organisations seeking an immediate ban on “Aata’’, an exclusive dance show for children being aired on a private TV channel. Also targeted are other reality shows exploiting children in the name of “entertainment’’.
“The reality shows have crossed the limits of vulgarity and are a clear indication of child rights violation.
These kids are being subjected to physical abuse. Underage TV viewers are also harmed. Teaching them provocative dances and lewd gestures, the organisers are indirectly encouraging child sexual abuse. Imagine the bad impact it will have on young minds,’’ says P A Devi, a social worker who filed the petition, along with the cultural organisations Sadhana and Vanamali.
Devi points out that the Supreme Court had ordered that children below 8 not be a part of such shows.
However, the reality is that tots younger than 5 are made to practice rigorously for long hours. “We have information that the participants are made to practise 14 hours a day. This is clearly child labour and nothing else.’’ State Human Rights Commission chairman Subhashan Reddy has reportedly taken serious note of the issue and the matter will come up for hearing on Monday.
–Agencies