Andhra rights panel bans children’s reality shows

HYDERABAD - The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission Saturday banned television reality shows involving children.

Pronouncing its verdict on the petitions filed by some NGOs, the commission banned with immediate effect “Aata” a dance reality show on Zee Telugu channel and directed the police to take action against such shows on other channels.

Commission chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy said human rights were being violated in shows like “Ata” as they portray children in an objectionable manner.

The commission observed that such shows were badly affecting the health of children and creating several problems.

“These children don’t even know what they are doing and how they are being used. The physical and psychological growth of children continue till 18 years of age and such reality shows are having bad effect on their growth,” he said.

The commission’s verdict came on a batch of petitions filed in April by groups working for children’s rights. They sought a ban on reality shows for making children perform obscene numbers.

The commission also directed police to take action against obscene advertisements and programmes on television channels. It called for framing guidelines for the TV programmes especially the reality shows.

Subhashan Reddy allowed channels to submit their arguments against the ban. The commission will conduct a public hearing on the issue July 3.

In April, the commission had found fault with parents for encouraging their children to participate in such realty shows.

“Don’t you feel uncomfortable with the way your children have been dressed up for the show,” Reddy had asked the delegation of six parents, who had opposed the petitions for banning the reality show.