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Chennai DD upgrade under way, Rs 15-cr HD studio to be operational in ’17-18
MUMBAI: The Central government is planning to establish an HD TV studio in Chennai at a cost of Rs 15 crore which will be commissioned in 2017-18, union minister Venkaiah Naidu has said. About upgrading facilities at Doordarshan Kendra in Chennai, Naidu said 245 studio high-definition cameras and 254 field cameras had been procured for beefing up the infrastructure.
The information and broadcasting minister reviewed the performance of the Doordarshan Kendra and All India Radio in Chennai. Referring to increase in community radio subsidy to 75% across India as reported by www.indiantelevision.com in December 2016, he said NGOs and universities would be encouraged to set up community radios and they also could receive subsidy.
Community radio was an empowering as well as useful tool to cater to the people in local dialect, he said, adding such radio broadcasts were of “immediate” relevance to the community.
About enhancing the services of public broadcasters at par with private ones, Naidu said he had directed officials to produce quality programmes to compete with private FM channels.
Public broadcasting was an essential service and, owing to that, the prime minister Narendra Modi chose AIR and Doordarshan for his ‘Mann ki baat programme’, he said.
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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.
