NCPCR guidelines on children working in entertainment industry

Context–  Recently the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has come up with a set of guidelines to protect children working in the entertainment industry.

Key highlights:

• Enrollment of child artists with the district magistrate, minimum one-day leave, adequate and nutritious food, no overtime are some key guidelines issued.
•  The  guidelines prohibit infants under three months  to participate in shows except in programmes on promotion of breastfeeding.

 About the new guidelines

• The new guideline  according to the NCPCR  shall protect  children working  in the entertainment industry involved in films, TV, reality shows, OTT platforms, news and content creation for social media websites.  
• The vulnerability and ensuring a healthy work environment with minimal physical and psychological stress shall be kept in mind.  
• The guidelines for child and adolescent participation in the entertainment industry and any commercial entertainment activity said that if an infant participates for more than an hour daily, a registered nurse or midwife must be present along with the parent or the guardian.
•  In the absence of any monitoring mechanism, the children in the entertainment industry are at a grave risk of exploitation because of lack of legal right to earning they generate or safe working conditions. 
• Violation of the above guidelines shall be considered as a cognisable offense as per section 14 and  14A of the Child and adolescent labor Act ,1986. 
• The NCPCR has included penalties and punishment if the producer,parents or legal guardians are found violating the guidelines. It stipulates that if a violation is found in terms for a second time then it shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term  which shall not be less than one year but may extend to three years.

 About the National Commission for Protection of Child rights:

• The National Commission Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) is a statutory body established by the act of the parliament, the Commission for the protection of child rights Act,2005. 
• The body works under the Ministry of Women and  Child Development.The commission came into being on 5th March, 2007. 
• It works in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the child. The commission defines any person below the age of 18 years as a child.
•  The commision has a chairperson who has performed outstanding work and has experience in the fields of child welfare.
•  Six members out of which atleast two must be women  and others from amongst person of eminence and experience in the field of education, child healthcare, juvenile justice, child psychology, laws relating to children and in elimination of child labour and children in distress.

 Initiatives  body:

 The GHAR Portal– The GHAR portal launched by the commission  on- Go Home and Reunite(GHAR)  aims on the restoration and repatriation of children with digital monitoring and tracking of children.

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