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LMOs briefed on current CAS status
MUMBAI: A special briefing session on the existing CAS (conditional access system) scenario was conducted for the benefit of Mumbai-based cable operators and last mile operators (LMOs) at a suburban hotel in Mumbai today.
Several cable operators in Mumbai seem to be groping for information about the current status of CAS implementation and this was evident when several LMOs assembled at Doordarshan Mumbai offices on 5 August when I&B additional secretary Vijay Singh visited the city to conduct the first meeting of the CAS implementation panel.
The Eastern Cable TV Operator’s and Welfare Association invited CAS implementation panel member Roop Sharma (of Cable Operators’ Federation of India) to address a gathering of 500 LMOs. Trade union leader and Congress representative (MPCC member) Bhai Jagtap also attended the meeting that was held at the Maharana Hotel in Chembur (in suburban Mumbai) today afternoon.
Eastern Cable TV Operators and Welfare Association president Ravi Kalastri says: “The assembled LMOs represented a fair mix of cable operators that are being serviced by all the three major MSOs in Mumbai (Hathway, Siticable and InCablenet). All the assembled members complained that the MSOs hadn’t made an attempt to brief them about the current situation. We have a right to know everything about the developments on the CAS front as we will be the ones who will ensure its success!”
Roop Sharma spoke about the various issues such as
* Implementation of CAS from September onwards
* Commissions and incentives to be offered to LMOs
* Infrastructure and technology related issues
* The efforts being made by the cable operators representatives to increase the monthly cable rates of Rs 72 for free to air channels
The assembled LMOs were of the view that the monthly charges of the FTA channels should be increased to Rs 150 (minus taxes).
Also read:
CAS deadline will be met, say major players; LMOs refuse to play ball
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.
