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Prasar Bharati Board crippled as political appointees bid good-bye
NEW DELHI: With the advertisement for filling the posts of member (Finance) and member (Personnel) in the Prasar Bharati Board being given out, the government has commenced the groundwork for shortlisting the names of Prasar Bharati Board members, as four more part-time members have resigned on moral grounds.
Sources in Prasar Bharati have informed that Prema Cariappa is the latest to put down her papers, while earlier Suman Dubey, Deepa Dixit and R Kesavan who is great-grandson of Rajaji had resigned from their positions.
There are currently seven vacancies in the Board, since Prasar Bharati is without a chairperson as Mrinal Pande’s term has come to an end, and the posts of both the executive members in-charge of personnel and finance are vacant.
While no official comment was available, pubcaster sources say that these resignations could be due to the fact that they were political appointees.
Under the Prasar Bharati Act 1990, the part-time members have a term of six years and therefore cannot be removed before that term is over even if there is a change in government or the governance of Prasar Bharati.
However, one source said that the members are believed to have resigned as a moral obligation since they were appointees of the previous government.
It is also learnt that the members were apprehensive of greater interference in the working of the autonomous pubcaster, and the resignations could be termed as a ‘boycott’ or ‘protest’.
Another source said that the members were also unhappy with the fact that there were crucial delays in not only filling vacancies in the Board, but also the vacancies that had been cleared by the Group of Ministers as crucial to the function of the pubcaster.
The Prasar Bharati Board comprises its chairman, an executive member (chief executive officer), member (Finance), member (Personnel) and six part-time members.
That apart, a representative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Director General of All India Radio and Doordarshan are its ex-officio members.
Earlier in April this year, the then Union Cabinet had decided to maintain status quo in Prasar Bharati with regard to recruitment of people up to the age of 62 to allow the public broadcaster to fill key positions that have been lying vacant or are likely.
Interestingly, a Group of Ministers (GoM) had earlier recommended that the age for these positions be lowered to 55 years and that recommendation has been under the consideration of the government.
However, the decision was taken on a proposal by I&B Ministry as the tenure of this government was ending and the implementation of GoM recommendations for lowering the age required an amendment to the Prasar Bharati Act.
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar had earlier told indiantelevision.com that he was unhappy that no steps had been taken to fill important posts, which he felt should have been filled before they become vacant.
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.
