Temporary respite to Pati, patni .. as NGOs plan their next move

Just a few days ago TellyChakkar reported about the resistance that BBC’s Pati, Patni aur Woh was facing from NGOs and concerned parents. As per the format of the show kids as little as six months old are made to stay with celeb couples thereby causing them severe distress as they are away from their biological parents. Finding the show objectionable many NGOs and individuals voiced their grievances by writing letters to the press and the channel and even going to Court. One of them is Rahul Verma, co-founder and managing trustee of Uday Foundation who called the format of the show unethical as it exploits young children in the pursuit of entertainment. Verma has demanded a ban on the show untill the time the ministry of Ministry of Women and Child Development is completely satisfied with its format. The matter was heard by the Delhi High Court which has allowed the channel to continue airing the show. This judgement will now be challenged by the NGOs. Defending the show’s format and refuting the allegations celebrity participant Juhi Parmar says, “Contrary to the general opinion, we were taking extra care of the kids on the show. In addition to that, parents and nannies of the kids were present on the sets round the clock to step in care if need be. We have had sleepless nights while taking care of the kids. It definitely takes them time to get adjusted to new people as they are not our kids. It takes a day or two for the kids to get accustomed to their new parents and the environment.” So what does she say about the fact that participants Rakhi Sawant and Gaurav Chopra mishandled the kids on the show? “When we were on the show we hardly had the time to go and peep in the other homes to see what was transpiring. After coming out I too am hearing tales about the show and the celebrity contestants but honestly we are no one to pass comment on the situation. This is a difficult show and I too lost my cool and had arguments with my husband Sachin. So you never know what other couples have gone through. The thing that is to be noticed is that there is no child-labour. The parents are not getting paid for lending their children on the show. I am hearing that the NGOs are also planning to move the Supreme Court now.” A member of N.C.P.C.R (National Commission for protection of Child Rights) on the condition of anonymity said, “I don’t have the copy of the verdict. But the matter is that the channel (NDTV Imagine) moved the Delhi High court saying that we are violating their rights to work and the court ruled in their favour. The channel was of the opinion that without listening to their stand we decided to ban the show. The notice that was issued by the commission was that the show should be banned taking into account the vulnerable age of the kids in the show. NCPCR has the power to inquire and summon but they can’t pass any ruling. We have to submit our findings to the Ministry of Information and Broadcast and the rest is left to them. Apart from the show cause notice to the channel we had sent a letter of request to the Information and Broadcast Ministry to take up the matter and put an end to the show.” The member adds further, “A 17- month- old kid is not articulate enough to express his displeasure or discomfort. I too happened to see the show and I did not like what I saw. A reputed publication called me up yesterday to tell me that they happened to speak to some of the parents who confessed that their kids were highly discomforted and unhappy when they were brought back to them. These parents are driven by publicity and fame but what they fail to see is that they are putting the dignity and protection of the children at stake. The channel is claiming that the show is based on an international format called The Baby Borrowers which was also pulled off as a result of public outcry.” The commission is now planning to conduct an inquiry on the show and summon the concerned parties. “We will ask them to put forward their side and then will decide on the future course of action. We will await the order from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. I just wish the court had looked into the larger issue and then passed the order.” Sandhya Bajaj, a member of NCPCR who has been looking into the matter from the start refused to comment as the matter is subjudice. We also sent a text message to Shailja Kejriwal, Programming Head NDTV Imagine and Saul Nasse, BBC Worldwide Content and Productions India GM and Creative Head but they both didn’t reply.