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Pubcaster breaks bureaucratic shackles; hires new recruits
NEW DELHI: After struggling for almost 25 years, the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has finally broken the bureaucratic shackles and started the process of completing 2,367 fresh recruitments for different posts in All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
The Group of Ministers attached to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which had gone into issues relating to the pubcaster had earlier recommended a total of 3,452 posts that needed to be filled on an immediate basis.
Of the total recruits, 120 persons have been shortlisted for immediate training at the National Academy for Broadcast Media set up by Prasar Bharati in north Delhi.
These new recruits were addressed by Prasar Bharati chairman Surya Prakash, eminent communicator Kiran Karnik, Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, and senior advisor VAM Hussain to generally acquaint them with the kind of challenges ahead of them.
Speaking of the role of the public broadcaster, Sircar said that both AIR and DD had helped in knitting the people of the country.
Pubcaster sources told Indiantelevision.com that the new recruits were being given induction training in batches of 55 at a time.
Sources also said that the induction training for each group would last around nine weeks.
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.
