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Over Rs 6 crore given to sportsmen in Q1 2015-16 from NSDF
NEW DELHI: In its attempt to improve the standard of sports in the country, the Government gave assistance of Rs 6.1 crore for the training of 31 athletes and to eight organisations in the first quarter of the current year 2015-16 from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
The funds were given for conduct of tournaments, participation in tournaments abroad, infrastructure development and prize money etc.
Out of the said 31 athletes, 24 have been given assistance under the Target Olympic Podium scheme.
The NSDF had been established by the Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry with the objective of promotion of sports in general and specific sports disciplines and individual sports persons in particular for achieving excellence at the National and International level and to construct and maintain infrastructure as may be required for promotion of excellence in sports.
The objectives of the fund also include taking up research projects and development studies and promotion of international cooperation in sports. The Ministry has initiated the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’ (TOP Scheme) under the NSDF. The scheme envisages identification of athletes who are potential medal winners in Olympics and providing support to them for preparation for Olympics.
Athletes who benefitted during the period are Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Heena Sidhu, Abhinav Bindra, Ankur Mittal, Anisa Sayyed, Kynan Chenai and Mohd. Asab (all shooters), Mandeep Jangra (boxer) Dipika Pallikal, Harinder Pal Singh and Kush Kumar (all squash players), Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Jayanta Talukdar, Mangal Champia, Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi, Rimil Buriuly, Laxmi Rani Majhi, Sanjay Boro, Atul Verma, Ranjit Naik, Dola Banerjee, Madhu Vedwan, Viswash, Snehal and Binod Swansi (all archers-mental training programme), Aishwarya and Varsha Gautham (sailors), Vikas Gowda (athletics) and Nischay Luthra (ice skating).
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.
