bharath2080
Oct 05, 2009, 11:23 AM
NDTV Imagine’s new reality show, Pati, Patni Aur Woh, is in trouble, with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Women and Child Development ministry (WCD) asking the channel to pull the show off air saying that it exploits children.
http://news.indya.com/UserFiles/image/August2009/02-10pati-patni-aur-woh.jpg
PPW - - indya.com
The show, adapted from the international format of Baby Borrowers, have five couples look after babies who are not theirs.
Sandhya Bajaj, a member of the commission, told the press that, “The infants shown in the programme are not the biological children of the participants. They cannot be given to other people for 24 hours.” Minister Krishna Tirath of WCD said, “The children’s parents watch the proceedings via CCTVs, but even then it’s not okay for the makers to separate the babies from their biological parents. They cannot exploit and harass children for the sake of making a serial and money.”
Bajaj added, “The commission had complaints from lawyers, parents and doctors when they were about to take a suo motu action against the channel. These children cannot speak. The promos show them crying, which indicates they are protesting. However, no one is listening and further the programme doesn’t convey any social message.” The commission has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to take action against the channel.
In its complaint Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups, an NGO in Delhi, said “Separating babies from their parents for a long time can lead to distress and anxiety among children. After prolonged separation, a child can have a feeling of disbelief for his/her primary caregiver. It can damage a child’s sense of safety.”
However, the channel is ready to take the legal route if necessary. “I have checked with BBC, the producers of the show, and they too have not received any letter. I do not know how such a notice can be issued without any intimation,” said Shailaja Kejriwal, senior vice-president of NDTV Imagine. “We are not going to take the show off air. There is no question of that. We have a written consent from the parents. There is a nurse who lives nearby, and there are doctors and ambulances on stand-by.”
The channel top bosses will meet today to further discuss the matter
http://news.indya.com/UserFiles/image/August2009/02-10pati-patni-aur-woh.jpg
PPW - - indya.com
The show, adapted from the international format of Baby Borrowers, have five couples look after babies who are not theirs.
Sandhya Bajaj, a member of the commission, told the press that, “The infants shown in the programme are not the biological children of the participants. They cannot be given to other people for 24 hours.” Minister Krishna Tirath of WCD said, “The children’s parents watch the proceedings via CCTVs, but even then it’s not okay for the makers to separate the babies from their biological parents. They cannot exploit and harass children for the sake of making a serial and money.”
Bajaj added, “The commission had complaints from lawyers, parents and doctors when they were about to take a suo motu action against the channel. These children cannot speak. The promos show them crying, which indicates they are protesting. However, no one is listening and further the programme doesn’t convey any social message.” The commission has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to take action against the channel.
In its complaint Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups, an NGO in Delhi, said “Separating babies from their parents for a long time can lead to distress and anxiety among children. After prolonged separation, a child can have a feeling of disbelief for his/her primary caregiver. It can damage a child’s sense of safety.”
However, the channel is ready to take the legal route if necessary. “I have checked with BBC, the producers of the show, and they too have not received any letter. I do not know how such a notice can be issued without any intimation,” said Shailaja Kejriwal, senior vice-president of NDTV Imagine. “We are not going to take the show off air. There is no question of that. We have a written consent from the parents. There is a nurse who lives nearby, and there are doctors and ambulances on stand-by.”
The channel top bosses will meet today to further discuss the matter