Guidelines For Child Artists: NCPCR

To include the new rules and regulations that are in accordance with the Indian Constitution and UNCRC 1989, the NTPCR published Draft Regulatory Guidelines for Child Participation in the Entertainment Industry or Any Commercial Entertainment Activity on June 24, 2202.

The commission has released guidelines that will be implemented concurrently with the JJ Act 2015, Child Labour Amendment Act 2016, POCSO Act 2012, IT Rules 2021, etc. This is due to the lack of specific guidelines for child artists in the entertainment industry as well as the increase in accessibility of content on the internet.

Salient Features:

Permission is required from the District Magistrate if any producer involves a child in any audio-media production/commercial event.

A producer has to ensure that if any audio-visual media production/commercial event engages a child in activities like shooting, then a disclaimer specifying that no harm has been done to the child throughout the process has to be made while screening such content on entertainment platforms/television/social media.

It has to be ensured that no child has been cast in an inappropriate role or depicted as consuming alcohol/smoking/narcotic substances or exposed to ridicule/insult that could affect the emotional or psychological development of the child.

In programs that depict child abuse, it has to be ensured that the content is sensitively handled and does not pose any risk to the child’s welfare.

The presence of a parent/legal guardian is mandated, and travel arrangements should be made for the child.

Physical conditions and safety conditions i.e., prevention of exposure to harmful lighting should be ensured; adequate food & water with sufficient nutrients; recreational & rest facilities should be made available; medical facilities and special facilities for differently abled children.

Private space should be provided to the children for dressing-undressing purposes and should be different from the adults.

The period of work shall not exceed six hours a day and no overtime should be allowed between 7 P.M. and 8 A.M.

Twenty per cent of the income has to be deposited in an FD in the name of the child in a nationalised bank which will be credited to the child upon attaining a majority.

A producer has to ensure that there is no discontinuity of the child from these lessons in school and in case of his absence a private teacher should be appointed by the producer.

A producer has to ensure that a minimum number of working days or instructional hours in an academic year are maintained.

The conditions of work for children involved in content creation for social media platforms should be ensured.

Media and production houses have to ensure that the anonymity of the child victims of rape/other sexual offences is maintained for life.

The media house has to ensure that the best interests of the child are ensured while conducting an interview.