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Nine Doordarshan ‘kendras’ fail to utilise budget for Kisan channel
NEW DELHI: Nine Doordarshan ‘kendras’ (centres) including four in the northeast failed to utilise budgetary allocation for Kisan channel programmes in the first quarter of 2017-18. On the other hand, the Central Production Centre in Delhi exceeded using its allocated budget.
However, Doordarshan has urged Prasar Bharati to release a sum of Rs 159.083 million as grant-in-aid for the Kisan channel under Plan Scheme for the second quarter of the financial year 2017-18.
Of this, Rs 134.875 million is for the Central Production Centre from where the channel is beamed, while Rs 21.583 million is for 12 Doordarshan kendras in the northeast.
The remainder (Rs 2.625 million) is for the seven stations at Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Mumbai, Vijayawada, and Jammu.
In the first quarter, CPC was allocated a sum of Rs 108.744 million but it spent Rs 115.293 million till August 2017.
The northeastern kendras were allocated Rs 12.331 million in the first quarter while only Rs 2.651 million was used, with four kendras not spending any money at all.
Other stations were allocated Rs 2.625 million of which only Rs 69,000 was spent, wherein only two stations – Bhopal and Lucknow – incurring expenses.
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.
