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BARC gets IRS data, to start installation of peoplemeters soon
MUMBAI: A fortnight ago, concerns were raised about India’s audience measurement system, Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC), rolling out its operation on time.
BARC’s chairman Punit Goenka had earlier said that due to delay in receiving the establishment data from Indian Readership Survey (IRS) there might be a delay in the roll out of the rating system in October, as scheduled earlier.
As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, the council had also set a deadline for the IRS to share the data with it. The council had then pointed out that since the matter wasn’t sub judice as the Bombay High Court had allowed media houses and agencies to use the IRS report 2013 for marketing and media planning purposes on the petition filed by HT Media (HTML), IRS cannot deny sharing any data.
However, all such concerns can now be shoved under the carpet as IRS has shared the data required to start the roll out process. “We have got the IRS data,” says an industry source. But, this is just one part. Informs the source, “Installing peoplemeters will still take a month or so. Now that the data has come to us, we need to design actual panel, identify the households, recruit them, get approval from them for installing peoplemeters and only then can the installing of peoplemeters take place. All this will take a minimum of a month or so.”
BARC has already installed test meters to check for any faults in the peoplemeters being manufactured. “We need to test the peoplemeters for several conditions like: power fluctuation, environment condition etc. So far the meters have been working properly,” he adds. When asked about the number of test meters installed, without revealing much he says, “It is in three digits.”
However according to another industry source who could not contain the excitement says that the installation of peoplemeters shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks. “As soon as we sort out the process, the installations will start across the 22,000 households across the country in the first phase as the council had said earlier,” informs the source, while stating that the entire installation process will take up to six weeks. BARC will produce 25000 peoplemeters.
“It’s that fast,” proudly boasts the source.
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.
