Mumbai, Dec 15 (IANS) The Maharashtra government has issued notice to producers of television shows featuring children, eliciting a response on the work timings demanded from the minors and the conditions provided to them. “The producers have been issued the notice under the Child Labour Act 1996, asking them to explain if and why the children in their shows work for more than a stipulated time of six hours as per the law.

“We will take action against those producers who are violating the laws. We have given them seven days to reply to the notice,” Labour Minister Nawab Malik told mediapersons.

The minister said it is “not just the employers, but also the parents” who are denying the children enough time for studies.

“We will also be sending notices to parents soon,” Malik added.

Notices have already been sent to producers of various shows featuring children, including popular serials “Balika Vadhu”, “Uttaran” and “Chhote Miyan”.

The ones that are under the scanner include “Jai Shri Krishna”, “Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka” and “Boogie Woogie”.

Earlier, in September, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had recommended that children below 16 years of age be barred from participating in reality TV shows. But it hasn’t been implemented yet.