Parents fault channels for ‘negative’ telecasts

Parents of children contesting in a TV reality show have turned tables on television news channels.

They alleged that the electronic media had “humiliated” their kids by telecasting visuals with negative overtones.

The parents were deposing before the State Human Rights Commission on a petition filed by three social activists that the TV channels had violated child rights by conducting reality shows involving children.

The parents, felt that mere participation in the TV reality show was not tantamount to violation of child rights, instead they found fault with the visuals that were telecast by TV channels.

Ms Valli, mother of a child participant Gopi, said, “The repeated telecast of visuals during news programmes is more humiliating than the allegations of child rights violations.”

The parents insisted that their children were pursuing dance as an art form, and the TV programmes were not affecting them negatively.

They told the SHRC chairman, Justice B. Subhashan Reddy, that they found nothing wrong or derogatory with the format of the dance show in which their children took part.

Justice Reddy said, “I will club your petition with that of the social activists for the next hearing on April 28.”

Seven-year-old Geethika, a celebrity figure on the dance show, told mediapersons outside the SHRC office that the social activists should focus on the plight of streetchildren. “Our costumes are not indecent,” she said.