News Headline
DD’s DTH to offer 100 channels by 2006
NEW DELHI: Public service broadcaster Doordarshan’s free to air direct to home (DTH) service will offer 100 channels, including 75 private channels, by next year, according to information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy.
“Doordarshan’s free to air DTH will provide 100 channels by next year,” a Press Trust of India report quoted Reddy as saying on 10 September at a colloquium on ‘Who decides what we watch’ organised by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) and Prasar Bharati.
“DD’s DTH will also provide access to 75 private channels, including music channels,” he said, adding,”They (private channels) are welcome to join.” At present, DD offers 33 free to air channels and 12 All India Radio channels in its bouquet under the direct to home service for which the subscribers don’t pay any monthly subscription fee.
Apart from DD Direct Plus, the lone private sector DTH service in the country is Dish TV, which is 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms. T-Sky, a 80:20 joint venture between the Tatas and the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group, is slated to start its DTH service early next year.
This free to air status of DD Direct Plus, as the DTH service is branded, has kept away popular Hindi language entertainment channels away from the platform as the likes of Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony are pay channels.
Meanwhile, Reddy, whose ministry has been working on a policy for FM and community radio services in the country, also said that community radio has a great future and the service will shortly be extended to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) too.
At present, NGOs are not allowed to start community radio service in the countr. Due to the cumbersome clearance process very few such radio services have started in the country despite the policy guidelines being framed over two years back.
Lauding PSBT and Prasar Bharati, which manages DD and AIR, for their programme that involves public participation, the minister said private broadcasters must allow ordinary people to voice their concerns through their programmes.
Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Pradip Baijal, NASSCOM chief Kiran Karnik, Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma, filmmaker and TV Producer Meghna Gulzar and TAM media research CEO L V Krishnan also participated in the discussion, according to the PTI report.
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.
