Face-off over “borrowed babies” in reality show

A face-off between NDTV Imagine and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) appears to be on the cards over reality show ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’ in which television couples are made to look after “borrowed” babies.

Days after the NCPCR complained to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the channel on Friday said it disagreed with the Commission, adding that it would take all appropriate steps to protect “our broadcast rights.”

The NCPCR’s contention is that the show violates child rights as it entailed star couples taking care of babies “borrowed” for the programme.

According to NDTV Imagine Ltd., the NCPCR sent a notice asking it to stop the telecast immediately. Expressing surprise over the notice, the channel, in a statement, said the NCPCR had neither approached it nor the BBC — the format owner and producer of the show — to seek clarifications.

The channel pointed out that ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’ was an adaptation of the BBC’s ‘Baby Borrowers,’ which has been aired successfully in many countries.

The statement pointed out that the children’s biological parents supervised proceedings from cameras in adjacent rooms and have the freedom to intervene if they perceived the slightest risk to their child.