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AIR, DD modernisation progress unsatisfactory: Parliamentary Committee
NEW DELHI: Noting that it is ‘very crucial to rejuvenate and revitalize Prasar Bharati by improving its efficiency, effectiveness and quality of broadcasting through complete digitization;’ a Parliamentary Committee has said that the performance in this regard during the Eleventh Plan was ‘unsatisfactory’.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which also examines Information and Broadcasting, in a recent report recommended that earnest efforts must be made to see that all the planned schemes for modernization of All India Radio and Doordarshan are implemented during the Twelfth Plan period.
It noted that one of the focal points of successive reports of the Committee have been the modernization of AIR and DD. The Committee noted that for the Twelfth Plan period, the Government allocated Rs 2252 crore for AIR for modernisation and expansion of its infrastructure, which includes Rs 1020 crore for the new schemes under the Twelfth Plan and Rs 1232 crore for the continuing schemes of the Tenth and Eleventh Plans.
In regard to the modernisation of Doordarshan, the Committee was informed that it is a continuous process and various schemes for modernisation are formulated and implemented from time to time. At present, the schemes, which are under implementation include Digitalization of Transmitters and Studios in Doordarshan Network, High Definition Television (HDTV), Modernization, Augmentation and Replacement of Transmitter and Studio equipment, Modernisation, Augmentation and Replacement of Satellite Broadcast equipment and DTH Service, etc.
The Committee recommended that the remaining works related to digitisation of Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) Transmitters, studios and digitisation of connectivity are completed within the time limits prescribed under the Twelfth Plan.
The Committee took ‘serious note of the fact that for complete digitisation of AIR networks and 100 per cent coverage by FM signal, inadequate funds were allocated during the Eleventh Plan and even during the Twelfth Plan, the requisite requirement of Rs 4179 crore allocation has not been met and as a result, the digitization plan has been shifted further and is expected to be completed only by December 2018.
The Committee noted that both AIR and DD as national broadcasters are playing a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country because of their extensive reach across the masses, particularly in the rural and far flung areas of the country.
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.
