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Prasad to inaugurate AIBD broadcasting conference
NEW DELHI: The second general conference of Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) would be held in New Delhi from 22 to 25 July 2003.
India’s minister of information and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad would inaugurate the conference and deliver the keynote address. The associate meetings of AIBD, however, would start on Monday, 21 July 2003.
Messages from the UN secretary general Kofi Annan and UNESCO director general Koichiro Matsura would also be read on the occasion.
About 75 delegates from the countries in the Asia-Pacific region and representatives from several organisations like UNESCO, UN-ESCAP and Commonwealth Broadcasting Association would be attending.
Besides these, the affiliate members like Russian State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company, National TV and Radio Corporation of Kyrgizstan, Khabar Broadcasting Agency of Kazakhstan, Prix Jeunesse International, Germany, Deutsche Welle Radio Training Centre, Germany, Young Asia Television, Sri Lanka, Radio France International and Trans TV, Indonesia would also be attending.
On 21 July, the AIBD board executive would hold its daylong meetings. The AIBD Sub-Group on Radio would also hold discussions. The agenda on other meetings would include the AIBD Strategic Plan, Strategic Approach in Broadcast Management in the Asia-Pacific Region. Asia-Pacific Europe Partnership Committee would also meet during the conference.
The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development with its headquarters at Kuala Lumpur is a unique regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.
The paramount aim of the Institute is to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia Pacific region through policy and resource development.
The institute was established with the objective to assist countries, which are members of the institute, to improve the professional capability of their broadcasting systems through systematic training and research programmes, consistent with their national development.
Towards these objectives, the institute organises training courses, seminars and study courses for broadcasting personnel of member countries, both at regional and national levels, specifically designed to develop professional capabilities; undertakes research and comparative studies on broadcasting problems, provides advisory and consultancy services to member countries.
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.
