Focus on ethical issues of child
exploitation at the 16th ICFF
Hyderabad|India|November'2009: Film makers and children’s film
campaigners strongly advocated implementation of the guide lines
against exploitation of children in movies and said that such harassment
was an un- ethical practice.
The participants of the OPEN FORUM on the penultimate day of the 16th
international children’s film festival said making children to work for
over 12 hours on the film sets was nothing but exploitation .
The OPEN FORUM held at the media centre at Prasad’s IMAX was moderated by
Swati Lodha , film maker Nagesh Kuknoor, Shanta Rameswar Rao, principal of
Vidyaranya School , Ashok Pal, a film maker, and Mrs Bhavani a parent also
participated.
Swati Lodha said it was unethical that child artists continue to be
subject to exploitation and harassment in the film industry . “ Whether it
is a children’s movie or a feature film, children continue to be made to
work for fullshift like all other aduts ‘ she said.
Shanta Rameswar Rao, the principal of a local school said there should be
ban on use of infants and under age children in the films .’ If necessary
for the theme the children should not be made to work for more than four
hours ‘ she said .
Mrs. Bhavani, mother of a child jury Kavya said ‘ exploitation of children
is more in serials and reality shows ‘ . She also made a plea for
provision of a doctor, psychiatrist , food and water at all the sets where
all child artists were hired.
Film maker Nagesh Kuknoor said the child artists should be used as per the
guide lines given in the film trade and official documents of the labor
department and bye-laws of the Unions . “ Issue of ethics and exploitation
comes only after their abuse and hardships to children “ he said.
All the speakers were unanimous that either ethically or un ethically the
children’s film society of India should keep a vigil against the
exploitation of children in the film industry, TV and reality shows . “
More so it should become a regulatory body to guide and restraint
unethical practices by the film industry in general “ he said .
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Reachout's News Bureau
November' 2009
