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1000 radio stations likely to be set up this year
NEW DELHI: About 1000 radio stations are likely to be set up this year in the country by the educational institutions like the Universities, IITs, IIMs and residential schools. The Community Radio Station scheme in educational institutions was approved by the Union Cabinet last month.
Presiding over the launching of Golden Jubilee celebrations of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), here today, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj said that there is going to be a radio revolution in the country and she called upon the engineers to seize this opportunity and make these radio stations operational.
She said that in this era of convergence and optical fibre, an inter-disciplinary approach would become necessary. Only those entrepreneurs who keep abreast with the latest technological developments, innovate with technology applications and come out with products to meet genuine felt needs of the consumers, will get the early bird advantage.
Swaraj called upon the engineers to take initiative at a micro level so that at the aggregate macro level, the nation as a whole takes a quantum jump in development. Stressing the importance of research and development, Swaraj said that pure research should not be neglected because it enables harnessing of technologies for applications.
The focus must be kept on our 20 million strong diaspora which has among the best electronic, computer, communications, broadcasting engineers and IT experts and larger collaborations between Indians in India and Indians abroad could help in making us the world leaders in the knowledge based sunrise industry, she said.
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.
