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Doordarshan calls off DD Kashir’s channel packaging
NEW DELHI: Over five months after bids were invited and three months since agencies were shortlisted, Doordarshan (DD) has cancelled the tender for the channel packaging work of DD Kashir.
DD said the tender has been cancelled ‘due to administrative reasons’ and said bidders could collect the earnest money and processing fee paid by them.
The decision is the third major decision rescinding in an ongoing exercise at DD since Smriti Irani took over as Information and Broadcasting minister. Earlier, the auctions for DD FreeDish were cancelled and the successful bidders for DD National Prime Time auctions were not allowed to air their programmes as the minister wanted to reportedly study the issue.
The three agencies finalised for the packaging work were Prime Focus Technologies, Beehive Systems, and Grasshopper Media.
DD Kashir had issued a similar tender for April but had made some changes following some feedback and changes made by DD Directorate General, particularly relating to the payment mode and sought fresh tenders with 29 June as the last date.
Details of documents can be viewed at ddindia.gov.in
DD Kashir was launched in the year 2003 to show the richness, variety and diversity of local culture to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) viewers. Prasar Bharati is making special efforts in J&K to promote and nurture talent, provide a platform to deserving producers/artists from the state as well as from outside to encourage production of better programmes for Doordarshan viewers.
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.
