'Will Pollute Young Minds, May Result In Abuse & Exploitation Of Children': NCPCR Asks Netflix To Stop Streaming 'Bombay Begums'

Citing inappropriate portrayal of children in the web series, the apex child rights body NCPCR has asked Netflix to immediately stop streaming 'Bombay Begums' and furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which, the notice says, it will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action.

Written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, Netflix India show Bombay Begums follows the lives of five women from various walks of life in Mumbai.

In view of a complaint received from two Twitter handles with regard to the show Bombay Begums, alleging that the series normalizes minors indulging in casual sex and drug abuse, the Apex child rights body took cognizance of the tweets under Section 13 (1) (j) of CPCR [the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights] Act 2005.

This particular provision grants the commission to inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to,-

• deprivation and violation of child rights;
• non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children;
• non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring the welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children, or take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities

Significantly, calling it a 'serious issue', the notice issued to Netflix states,

"The series with this type of content will not only pollute the young minds of the children, and may also result in the abuse and the exploitation of children at the hand of the perpetrators/offenders."

The Commission has also added that it does not allow representing, portraying and glorifying children in India in such a manner on any media Platform/Internet/OTTs, etc.

"Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also, refrain themselves from getting into such things," the commission further said in its notice.

"Therefore, you are directed to look into this matter and immediately stop streaming of this series and furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which the Commission will be constrained to initiate appropriate action pursuant to the provisions of Section 14 of the CPCR (Commission for Protection of Child Rights) Act, 2005," the commission said.