News Headline
Broadcasters to meet PMO officials today; MSOs to meet Prasad
NEW DELHI: The confusion over the alternative and seemingly unviable options being mooted by the information and broadcasting ministry have forced broadcasters to approach PMO officials. A group of broadcasters will be meeting the PM today even as the multi system operators are slated to meet the I&B minister RS Prasad at 2 pm.
An indiantelevision.com report filed yesterday states that it took the Indian government and bureaucrats almost six months to realise that conditional access system may not turn out to be as consumer friendly as had been earlier envisaged by the country’s policy-makers when the amendments to the related Acts were steam-rolled through Parliament by the coalition federal government late last year.
An indiantelevision.com comment piece “Dual illumination not a workable proposition” has really set the ball rolling. Amidst all the confusion, this new “formula” doing the rounds called the soft rollout plan looks more like a plan to soften the mess that the government has got itself into ever since I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad gave a commitment to the world at large that CAS would deliver all channels (including the pay driven ones) to the subscriber within Rs 200.
The last month or so has seen the government, instead of applying itself to the nitty gritty of getting the CAS machine rolling in terms of how it is actually to be managed, playing pricing officer with pathetic results.
And now, while the government insists that the CAS rollout is on schedule, it says it is studying various options to make things easy for consumers, who should not face a blackout of their favourite channels post 14 July.
All eyes will be on the two important meetings scheduled today!
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.
