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Hansa Research to cease services to BARC and MDL
MUMBAI: Hansa Research, the third party agency which measures television rating points (TRP) for Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) and Meterology Data Pvt Ltd (MDL), has decided to withdraw its services from 30 July 2021. According to sources, Hansa and MDL have mutually agreed upon service disengagement and that MDL is well equipped in data collection and will continue to provide services without any interruption.
"We haven't heard from you for over four months though there was a sense of urgency to get our response to the RFP by 17 November, with a deadline to finalise the new vendors/contractors by 1 December 2020. We assume you have finalised the new set of vendors for managing your panel homes and that we can now be relieved of our duties," Hansa Research CEO Praveen Nijhara wrote in a letter addressed to MDL.
Praveen asked MDL to consider the letter as a notice of withdrawal and made it clear that services from Hansa Research to BARC and MDL will end on 30 July.
Hansa Research became embroiled in controversy last year, when the Mumbai police arrested a few of its former employees in connection with the TRP manipulation case. In its chargesheet, the police alleged the Hansa ex-employees had rigged the ratings in exchange for kickbacks from certain TV channels.
The Enforcement Directorate, too, investigated Hansa and mentioned in its chargesheet that relationship managers at the agency had induced multiple households with bar-o-meters to watch certain channels only throughout the day. BARC bar-o-meters are used to keep track of channels that are being watched most by households, and this data is used to calculate ratings. Some channels which are allegedly involved in this scam bolstered their TRPs with the help of these former Hansa Research employees to get more advertisements.
The fake TRP scam came to light in October 2020, when ratings agency BARC filed a complaint through Hansa Research, alleging that certain television channels were rigging television ratings.
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.
