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Siti begins seeding of STBs in south Delhi
NEW DELHI: Getting first off the blocks, Siticable Network Limited, the cable subsidiary of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms, has begun seeding set-top boxes in the South Delhi area, which will be the first zone where conditional access system (CAS) would be rolled out from 1 September.
Similar initiatives have been started in Kolkata where, at present, consumers are being given demonstrations of the digital boxes that would be needed to access pay channels in a post CAS regime.
While ASC Enterprises, another Chandra company, is the licence holder for uplinking, Siticable Network is implementing CAS via its headend in the sky (HITS) model and marketing it under brand name Galaxzee.
Pointing out that the service is now operational with HITS getting the formal nod from the information and broadcasting ministry, an official statement from Siticable Network said, “It’s a clear indication of the company’s commitment to meet the 1 September deadline set by the government for phased implementation of CAS in the metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.”
The statement added that Siticable has initiated various consumer education programmes, including benefits of the boxes, their properties, pricing and availability, etc. The company is claiming that it would offer a new, digital entertainment experience that would be “far superior to what the Indian audience have witnessed so far.”
Siticable has planned an array of live consumer demos and road shows that would provide a one-to-one interface with consumers from various localities of south Delhi. The first such forum was addressed yesterday by company executives at the Vasant Kunj community centre.
The company has plans to use mobile vans, positioned at strategic points within the city, for making consumers aware about CAS, boxes and other such issues. These vans will receive direct signals from the head-end in the sky and provide the public with live demos of the Galaxzee.
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.
