District magistrates may soon have a role in grant of nod to shoot shows, events involving children

NEW DELHI: Any producer of any audio–visual media production or any commercial event shall involve a child as a participant only after obtaining the permission from the district magistrate of the district where the activity is to be performed, and will need to furnish an undertaking in laid out format about the list of child participants and consent of parents or guardian. They will also need to notify the name of the individual from the production or event who shall be responsible for the safety and security of the child.
These safeguards are part of the comprehensive "draft regulatory guidelines for child participation in the entertainment industry or any commercial entertainment activity". The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has put up these guidelines for public comment for a 30-day period.
There is also a chapter on penalities for offences where it is stated that if the producer or the parents/legal guardian is found in violation of provisions under these guidelines then they can face legal action under the Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986 and The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017. "The producer or the parents/legal guardian can face punishment, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, or with fine which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or with both, and shall be a cognizable offence," it is stated.
In case of contravention of any provision of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act,the producer or any person involved in the production, the production house shall be held liable under Section 19 of the Act if information is not provided to the local police in the manner laid down in the POCSO Act, 2012.
The Commission has observed that a need was felt to frame guidelines especially for the children who are involved in films, TV, reality shows, OTT platforms, news and content creation for social media websites. Moreover, the last guidelines issued by the Commission “Guidelines to Regulate Child Participation in the Entertainment Industry” in 2011, there have been many amendments in related laws and some new laws and rules have been notified over the years.