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Star India, Disney+Hotstar join hands with Project Mumbai in Covid2019 battle
MUMBAI: When the entire world is hobbled by a never-before-seen pandemic of this scale, what the world wants is an unwavering sense of camaraderie that is rooted in humanity. In such a crisis, people and organisations, transcending all man-made restrictions, help each other so as to put up a collective fight against the Covid2019 pandemic.
The country has already seen how the entertainment industry has come out to help those in need of succour.
Now, media organisations are coming to the forefront in this hour of crisis to do their bit for the health and safety of individuals who are at the forefront in their battle against the pandemic.
Star India and Disney+Hotstar have joined hands with the NGO Project Mumbai by donating 200,000 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits to the health workers at BMC and an additional 10,000 khakhi-coloured kits for the Mumbai police.
Mumbai, which is seeing a spike in cases with each passing day, needs the consistent support and help of non-governmental organisations in dealing with a massive crisis like this one. This is where Star India and Disney’s contribution matters. The support will help the ongoing efforts in meeting the demand for PPE kits for almost four weeks. Showcasing solidarity with the numerous medical, health, and protection warriors, the initiative seeks to equip the selfless warriors who are at the frontline, battling the pandemic.
Project Mumbai CEO-founder Shishir Joshi told Indiantelevision.com that Uday Shankar, president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, and chairman of Star India, was very keen to extend a helping hand to help Mumbai tide over the crisis.
“Uday Shankar was very keen to do something for Mumbai. Star has its base prominently in Mumbai. He himself has lived in Mumbai for a longer period of time. He asked us what needs to be done. We told him that doctors need to be helped out. They need PPE,” he said.
According to him, this is biggest contribution of its kind by a media company in India after Covid2019 has broken out. People need to come to help the city, especially given the fact that Mumbai has been seeing spike in cases.
Project Mumbai has been at the forefront of helping the needy in these times. “We are feeding over 2,000 doctors every day. We are also feeding 70,000 homeless people,” said Shishir Joshi.
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.
