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LCOs threaten to boycott TRAI OHD meet on 29 September
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has called an Open House Discussion (OHD) on the draft amendment Registration India International regulations, the Standards of Quality Service (Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
The meeting is being held in Delhi on 29 September and local cable operators and other stakeholders have been asked to register by 26 September evening.
However, most local cable operators from different parts of the country have decided to boycott the meet, alleging that TRAI ‘management ran away’ in the last Open House Discussion.
Several organisations of LCOs from Gujarat, West Bengal and other parts of the country pointed out that many LCOs had come to Delhi on 24 September and alleged that ‘the management of TRAI does not have respect towards this religious faith’ and has given a deadline of 26 September for the next OHD despite the Navratri festival.
It was pointed out to indiantelevision.com that even the next OHD was clashing with the festive season and not enough time was given to the LCOs to be able to get bookings to come back to Delhi.
LCOs alleged that ‘there was no discussion and no LCO was allowed to share in a fair or justified way in the last OHD and it looked like some dictatorship where the authority only wants to levy amendment on the LCOs’.
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.
