News Headline
Pubcaster not consulted on new DD News appointment: Prasar Bharati officials
NEW DELHI: The order posting Veena Jain to head the news channel of Doordarshan as director general and noting that the officer ‘will report to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for all purposes’ has come as a surprise to many as it implies that DD News is to be directly controlled by the Ministry.
However, Prasar Bharati officials told Indiantelevision.com that this has been the case since the inception of DD News.
All India Radio has 45 news units while DD has 30 news units around the country, and all are headed by Indian Information Service (IIS) officers posted by the Ministry.
Senior Prasar Bharati Advisor Brig. V A M Hussain told the website that Section 11(B)(2) of the Prasar Bharati Act 1990 clearly states that the Ministry must consult or seek advice of the pubcaster before making such appointments. Under the same Act, Prasar Bharati was made into an autonomous organisation.
However, in this case, a copy of the Ministry’s order was not even marked to Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar.
Reacting to a news report about this, Hussain tweeted, ‘Never consulted Prasar Bharati in past/Fact is Never handed over News.’
Answering a question, he said that DD had 24 channels and DD News is the only one where the IIS officers are directly answerable to the Ministry and are posted without consultation with the pubcaster.
In fact, Sircar has written to the Ministry several times in the past in this connection but has not received a reply.
The pubcaster had also reacted strongly when S M Khan had been removed unceremoniously last year and placed on compulsory wait.
During the run-up to the elections, Khan was reported to have delayed the transmission of Narendra Modi’s interview to Doordarshan. Answering a query about editing out certain portions, he had sad this was done only because of references made about persons who had not been given an opportunity to have their say.
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.
