INDIAN PRODUCERS HIRING CHILD ACTORS UNDER FIRE

NEW DELHI, June 12 (Bernama) -- A central state in India is threatening to
drag producers to the court for hiring child actors, alleging that young
children were being abused as child labour.

The Maharashtra government had decided to prosecute at least eight
television serial producers for employing child artistes for their soaps.

The state's Labour Minister, Nawab Malik, said they needed to protect child
actors from the strenuous long working hours and the conditions in which they
perform.

The ministry claimed that producers failed to comply with the provision of
the Child Labour Act, which outlines that child artistes should be given an
hour's rest after every three hours of shooting and to ensure tht their studies
were not affected, the Mumabi Mirror reported.

The controversy was raked up on the day of the "World Day Against Child
Labour" which is celebrated worldwide.

Indian child rights activists had complained that child actors and child
singers below the age of 14 were forced to work more than ei ght hours at a
stretch, which often led to mental and physical exhaustion.

If found guilty, producers could be fined Rs10,000 (RM769) or face a
six-month imprisonment.

Many child artistes are working around the clock on popular television
series like "Balika Vadhu" (Girl Bride), "Chak De Bachche" (musical show),
Uttaran (Child Servant) and Shri Krishn a (story about Lord Krishan, where a
six-year-old boy plays the major role).

The ministry said it would file a case in the Additional Metropolitan
Magistrate's Court in Mumbai soon. (US$1=RM3.49)
-- BERNAMA