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Government keen on Community Radio
NEW DELHI: The government is keen to encourage community radio and has already opened access to this sector to well established educational institutes, information and broadcasting secretary Pawan Chopra said today.
Chopra spoke at the inauguration ceremony of a two-day workshop on Designing and Enabling Framework for Community Radio in India, jointly organized by the I&B ministry and UNDP and UNESCO, here today. He offered that the opening up of radio as a medium of community communications reflects the responsiveness of the government to those who believe that this is essential for a homogeneous growth of society.
According to Chopra, the limited spectrum and growing number of players in the field of broadcasting had to be kept in mind while evolving new policy initiatives, aimed at popularising community radio.
Though Chopra touched upon the issue of security concern, he did admit that the development paradigm in India has always placed greater importance on mass media as an agent of public service and social change. “Pitfalls and constraints have to be born in mind, while encouraging expansion of community radio,” he said.
In his comments, Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma said the expansion of community radio would supplement the public broadcasters efforts to reach to the masses and meet their aspirations. He said public broadcaster can help the prospective community radio operators by providing technical and infrastructure know-how.
The workshop would provide a platform to share the experiences of other countries and organisations and to come out with a policy framework that takes into account all the issues.
The basic purpose of the workshop is to study and share the experience of other stakeholders about successful community radio frameworks and practices, as well as to identify and brainstorm on key issues of concern while formulating a national policy framework on Community Radio in India.
The participants W Jayaweera of UNESCO, Dr Maxine Olson, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP president Representative, Prof M Tawfik, director and UNESCO representative, Brijeshwar Singh, director-general, All India Radio, Bharat Koirala from Nepal, Peter Rice from South Africa, Ashish Sen of Voices (a consumer group) , Dr R. Sridher of Anna University, K R P Verma, CMD of BECIL, Giles Tanner from Australia and Rakesh Kakar of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
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.
