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Broadcasters petition PMO on CAS
NEW DELHI: A section of broadcasters have petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to intervene and have a re-look at the various issues related to implementation of conditional access (CAS) in India.
A senior executive of a multinational broadcasting company told indiantelevision.com that “it would be correct to say some broadcasters have approached the PMO to intervene in the matter.” However, the person refused to divulge any further details.
It seems that after having failed to convince the information and broadcasting ministry (I&B) that the CAS rollout should be phased and not introduced in the four metros at the same time, part of the broadcasting community now has taken its case to a higher authority.
Though the I&B ministry was mum on this issue today when contacted as most of the top bureaucrats and the minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, were out of the country as part of a tour to Cannes and London, there seems to be some truth in the PMO factor.
Sudhindra Kulkarni, an officer on special duty in the PMO now looking after the affairs of the Press Information Bureau (the government’s PR arm), is said to have sat through a meeting that Prasad had with the MSOs some time back on CAS.
According to government sources, Kulkarni is also expected to attend a meeting of the government-piloted task force on CAS that is scheduled to be held on 21 May.
The broadcasters expect that the PMO would see some reason in their viewpoint and may step in to resolve the situation that many feel would unleash chaos in the short run.
Though the government at the moment is firm on the CAS rollout deadline of 14 July, several independent reports and experts have said that a simultaneous implementation of CAS in the four metros would lead to chaos in cable homes and the market as the industry has not yet been able to fine tune its act, especially those related to availability to set top boxes, which would be necessary to receive the pay channels.
The cost of the STBs has been a topic of much debate in recent times.
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.
