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Indian govt downgrades additional secy post at MIB
NEW DELHI: In a debatable move, the government has “downgraded” the post of additional secretary at Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and shunted out the present official to another post, while bringing in another person who would hold a junior rank.
In an official communication issued 20 December 2018, the government has stated that Atul K Tiwari was being appointed as joint secretary at MIB and would shift from an equivalent post he held at Ministry of Textiles.
While, the government communication also listed reshuffle of several other civil servants, including upgradation of two officials, in the case of MIB it was specifically stated that the post of additional secretary at MIB was being downgraded and the present incumbent Jayashree Mukherjee would be posted elsewhere in the government.
In effect, this means that joint secretary Tiwari would function as an additional secretary at MIB discharging duties similar to that being done by Mukherjee. An additional secretary’s post in a ministry is the second top bureaucratic post in that organisation.
Tiwari joins MIB at a crucial time ahead of general elections sometimes in the first quarter of 2019. The ministry oversees the work of public broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio and government’s PR arm Press Information Bureau, apart from a host of other entities involved in the dissemination of public service messages and information about government programmes. MIB is also responsible for permissions given to TV channels, newspapers, magazines and similar media ventures and implementing regulations meant for the media sector.
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.
