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Producers Guild of India organizes mass vaccination campaign
Mumbai: The Producers Guild of India (PGI), the association of Indian film, television, and digital content producers on Monday announced it will conduct a mass vaccination campaign to give coronavirus vaccines to guild members and associated production crews.
The Guild, in a press release, noted that members will be vaccinated across several days in a drive to commence on 1 June at Mehboob Studios, in suburban Bandra. The organizers said that mass vaccination is the single solution to curb the spread of the pandemic, and would also facilitate safer shooting, once production work resumes.
“An activity of such importance and magnitude cannot be carried out singlehandedly, and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received to make this possible. We are happy that we are able to provide this facility to our members, their employees, and the cast and crew of their (respective) productions as we work to get the industry back on its feet again in the weeks ahead,” said Producers Guild of India president Sidharth Roy Kapur.
Kapur also thanked production company Excel Entertainment for playing ”a pivotal role in securing the vaccine, as also Mehboob Productions, who very generously offered complimentary use of the spacious Mehboob Studios.”
Due to the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the Maharashtra government has suspended all shooting activities, both indoor and outdoor. Currently, the shooting of a few films and television shows is being carried out outside the state.
Maharashtra, on Sunday, reported 18,600 fresh Covid cases, with the death toll due to Covid-related complications costing 402 human lives, pushing the total number of fatalities to 94,844.
Producers Guild of India organizes vaccination drive. pic.twitter.com/Q1KDz14Tad
— Producers Guild of India (@producers_guild) May 31, 2021
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.
