I want to address the recent tragic death of Hyderabadi journalist Swetcha, where her minor daughter was subjected to numerous insensitive questions by the media—including deeply personal queries about her mother's relationship status. This kind of callous treatment of children for the sake of TRPs is unacceptable, and I am committed to signing and supporting a petition to ensure that no child ever faces such intrusive and insensitive media scrutiny again. Once we reach a significant number of signatures, this petition will be formally submitted to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to demand urgent action. 

It is deeply concerning that, especially in times of grief, children are exposed to invasive questioning that violates their right to privacy. Studies have shown that children are 40% more likely than adults to have their personal information shared by the media without consent (2018 Study, NYU School of Law). This is not just unethical—it is also contrary to the protections provided under Indian law.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) contains several provisions to safeguard children’s privacy and dignity:

Section 75: Protection of children from cruelty.
Section 72: Penalty for breach of confidentiality and privacy.
Section 228A: Prohibits disclosure of the identity of victims of certain offences, including children, by the media.
Section 354C: Addresses voyeurism and privacy violations.
Section 509: Penalizes acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, which can also be extended to protect minors.
Every child deserves a safe and protected adolescence, free from public scrutiny and insensitive media practices. Upholding their privacy is not only a moral responsibility but also a legal one. We must demand stricter enforcement of existing laws and advocate for stronger regulations to prevent such violations.

Update 1: Call to Action:

To prevent further violations of children’s rights, I respectfully urge your esteemed office to please ensure the following:

Investigate the Incident: Conduct a thorough inquiry into the media houses responsible for violating the privacy of Swetcha’s minor daughter and take appropriate disciplinary action.
Enforce Existing Laws: Advocate for stricter enforcement of the Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, NCPCR guidelines, and PCI norms to hold media houses accountable for unethical practices against children’s right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
Ensure Punishments: Emphasizing the need to protect children’s privacy and refrain from insensitive questioning, ensure the media houses are held accountable for their actions as per the law.
Mandatory Special Permission for Media Entry: Require that media representatives obtain special permission before entering any residence where minors are present. The authority responsible for granting such permission (e.g., a legal guardian, designated official, or advocate) should be clearly defined through consultation with relevant legal experts.
Pre-Approval of Interview Questions: Mandate that all questions intended for minors be provided in writing to the adult or guardian responsible for the minor. Only after explicit approval from the adult/guardian should media be permitted to conduct interviews, and these must occur in the presence of the responsible adult/guardian.
Prohibition on Traumatic Questioning: Prohibit the media from asking minors any questions related to traumatic incidents, including but not limited to death by suicide, murder, sexual abuse, or similar distressing events.
No Live Telecast and Prior Approval for Media Use: Ban all live telecasts of media interactions involving minors. Require that any recorded media snippets featuring minors be used only after obtaining explicit approval from the minor’s family or legal guardian
8.      Collaborative Oversight to Combat Yellow Journalism on YouTube: Convergence of policymakers, child safeguarding institutions, and media-monitoring entities is needed to scrutinize YouTube channels and curb yellow journalism, including sensational headlines, click-baity thumbnails, and insensitive reporting disguised as news. There must also be a strict regulatory mechanism in place to ensure YouTube channels come under the systemic purview of monitoring and accountability.

Please join me in urging lawmakers and media organizations to recognize this issue and implement stricter safeguards. Every signature on this petition is a step closer to protecting our children from inconsiderate and harmful media exposure. Let us prioritize the privacy and well-being of our children—sign and share this petition today. 

Update 2: I've written an article on this topic and asked for action from the concerned authorities while also reminding the common citizens what they can do to further the cause:

https://newsmeter.in/interviews/citizen-journalism-of-traumatized-children-media-heckling-and-unprofessional-journalists-751461 

This article has been shared by other journalists and a translation of the same has been posted on Facebook by Naresh Kumar Sufi.

Update 3: Hima Bindu, Child Rights Activist from Hyderabad who is playing active role in fighting for this cause with us visited  Ms. Charu Sinha, ADG, Women's Safety Wing on 11th July.  Ms. Sinha had said she will initiate a dialogue with the Telangana Press Academy Chairperson in the next few days. Noted our numbers from the representation. 

Update 4: I'm delighted to share that @i_himabindu
 Hima Bindu, a child rights worker from Hyderabad who had picked up on my petition and worked with me to draft a representation, met with Telangana Press Academy Chairperson, K. Sreenivas Reddy garu today. He expressed strong affinity towards the cause of addressing child privacy abuse by the media. Hima Bindu along with @gsreecharan
 Charan, also a child rights worker from Hyderabad, submitted the petition along with the screenshot evidence of YouTube media channels violating children's identities for mere TRPs. Mr. Reddy garu has promised to organize a sensitization workshop soon for journalists, particularly on ethical reporting practices concerning children.
https://x.com/YaminiDiva/status/1944722415248183491