In an advisory issued to channels issued today, the BCCC which is the self regulatory body for television said that it has received many complaints about the sexualisation of children on talent and other shows on General Entertainment Channels.
"The Council has watched some of these programmes and shares the concerns of those who have complained. The BCCC advises all Member Channels of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) to refrain from featuring children below the age of 12 years in any situation that has sexual or adult overtones," the advisory said.
The BCCC said that children should not be made to dance to songs that have covert sexual overtones. It added that kids should not be allowed to imitate adult gestures with a sexual or vulgar content.
The BCCC in its advisory also said that kids should not be placed in situations where they wear makeup and costumes in an effort to imitate adult performers and then enact scenes, songs or dance moves with an adult content or a sexual subtext.
"This Advisory applies to all such situations and the BCCC does not consider it a mitigating circumstance if the Channel has secured the permission of parents," the BCCC said making its intolerance on the issue clear.
In another advisory, the BCCC also advised channels to refrain from placing children below the age of 16 years in situations that may endanger their health, safety and morale.
