Article-Treatment over Child Actors

The Democratic Front government has decided to file a case against eight production houses currently making TV shows featuring child artistes. These production houses will face legal action for violating provisions in the Child Labour Act.
Labour Minister Nawab Malik said on Thursday that the case would be filed in the Additional Metropolitan Magistrate court soon. He said the government was not satisfied with the replies submitted by the production houses to the notices sent to them a few months ago.
Production houses that will face the heat are currently producing serials such as Balika Vadhu, Chak De Bachche, Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby, Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka, Uttaran, Maika, Shri Krishna and Chhote Ustad.
Currently, the shows are being telecast on Zee TV, Colors and NDTV Imagine. While Zee TV and NDTV Imagine air two shows each, Colors airs four.
The state labour department had taken these production houses to task for not complying with provisions in the Child Labour Act under which child artistes should get one hour rest after every three hours of shooting. Also, care should be taken that their studies are not affected.
If found guilty, the production houses may have to cough up Rs 10,000 in fines or face imprisonment of up to six months.
Dheeraj Kumar, producer of Maika, said, "We haven't received any intimation so far, but when we do, we will reply accordingly. We follow the norms, taking utmost care when we're shooting with children, providing them with all the facilities. Also, we never shoot more than 5-6 hours, even though Maika is not a childoriented show.
"Even my colleagues who make children's shows take great care of their child artistes. One can't simply stop making children-centric shows."
Ajay Balwant, producer of Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka on Zee TV, said, "All broadcasting channels have set up a self regulatory code on this issue, which will be presented to the government. We are already following those guidelines."
JD Majethia, producer of Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, said, "We will respond to the notice after talking to our legal consultants. We haven't received the notice yet. Baa Bahoo Aur Baby is wrongly perceived as a children's show. We shoot with children only on Saturday and Sunday, and if we require them to shoot on weekdays, it's only after their school hours."
Officials at Colors remained unavailable for comment.