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Govt says firm on new CAS deadline, miffed with MSOs over lack of rollout readiness
NEW DELHI: It is not just the pay broadcasters that the government sees as at fault over the mess that is CAS.
The government is miffed with the multi-system operators who, it thinks, had mislead the government as to their preparedness for conditional access system rollout. But criticisms and opposition to CAS, notwithstanding, the Indian government is pushing ahead with the revised rollout plan of 1 September. At present.
A source close to information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the present imbroglio would not have happened had the MSOs been upfront about their own preparations and the availability of set-top boxes.
It is learnt that the government feels that the MSOs are equally, if not more than the pay broadcasters, to blame for the quagmire that CAS has sunk into. “While assuring that adequate number of boxes would be in by the D-day (14 July), it was found out quite late in the day that assurances had not converted into reality,” the source said, adding the government had no option but to announce a revised rollout plan.
It was evident at yesterday’s meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office where Prasad is also understood to have said that all the stakeholders of the industry, including the government, stand to gain from CAS, taking a cue from the Morgan Stanley report on CAS that indiantelevision.com had published a few days back. But Prasad reportedly pointed out that some stakeholders had played hookey.
The government is trying to see that CAS does not become a contentious issue in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament and it is not put on the dock by the Opposition parties. Some of the government’s allies like the Shiv Sena and some state governments like Delhi have already opposed implementation of CAS.
At the bottom of most of these opposition is the availability (or the lack of it) of set-top boxes. For example, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit told the Indian broadcasters who met her yesterday that her opposition stems from the fact that without boxes available, a large section of Delhiites may not be able to get their daily dose of television viewing. Additionally Dikshit has taken the stand that the rentals of the boxes (Re 1 a month and Rs 999 deposit) are still too high.
Prasad got off easily on Monday since he did not have to verbally reply to fellow parliamentarians on CAS as other issues took centre-stage. The next test could be on Thursday. Prasad has to field several questions in the Lower House or Lok Sabha as also face privilege motion and calling attention motions on CAS later.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
