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Govt plans rethink on CAS implementation
NEW DELHI:Fazed by criticism and non-cooperation from the industry, Indias federal government is preparing the ground for calling for a review (read, near-junking) of conditional access system rollout.
Apart from discussing CAS on these lines with ministry officials on Sunday, information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also would be speaking on the confusion that has been created by the industry in a calling attention motion in Rajya Sabha (Uppper House) in a few hours from now.
The feeling in the ministry is that the industry not only had misled the government on the ground realities and their preparedness, but also the courts. The Delhi High Court in a recent verdict, on a petition moved by the cable operators and two set-top box manufactuters, had quashed the denotification of Delhi from the CAS rollout map, indicating that addressability should be rolled out in those parts of the Capital as had been mandated earlier.
Though ministry officials would continue to go on rounds of headends in South Delhi area, Prasad is getting firmer in the belief that more than the availability of boxes (or the lack of them), the lack of any planned initiaive on the part of the cable industry to educate the consumers about the whole issue, including the pricing of various bouquets and individual channels, is what has caused more confusion.
In this regard, a review meeting with the cable industry has been called by the ministry later this week. The multi-system operators and cable operators, on their part, say they have not been able to communicate the pricing strucuture properly as various agreements, though agreed upon, are yet to be signed with broadcasters. So there is a weird situation wherein a CAS consumer in South Delhi can actually get all the different bouquets for a lesser amount than if he went in for some channels of his choice.
The I&B ministry also feels, according to government sources, that if the situation in Delhi continues as it is, without showing signs of improvement, the government may go in for an appeal against the Delhi HC order, highlighting the fact that the industry is not ready to rollout CAS and has been doing only lip service to the whole issue.
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.
