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Trai CAS recommendations by July
MUMBAI: Did someone say CAS is dead? The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said today it would submit recommendations on addressability, including price issues, to the government by July.
At an “open forum” called in the capital today ahead of finalisation of its CAS recommendations, Trai chairman Pradip Baijal was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, “We will submit our recommendations on CAS in two months. Along with the recommendations, we have to suggest some amendments in law also because CAS was delegated to Trai through a notification and now we find there are some missing areas in legislation.”
“For instance, a licencee is defined in the Trai Act but that definition does not fit a broadcaster. All these missing links have to be addressed, and so we are working on that, and within two months we will send the entire package to the government,” PTI further quoted Baijal as saying.
The big question is of course what has got the regulator moving on an issue which has been bouncing around for a while now between the various industry stakeholders? One “huge impetus” was of course provided by the ruling of the Madras High Court on 30 June making “absolute” a stay on the operation of the government’s notification indefinitely suspending CAS in Chennai. There is also the fact that with the election process over and done with and only the results awaited, the political pulls and pushes may now recede into the background and the regulator can get on with its job.
Then there is what came through today’s open forum. That there is now virtual unanimity among cable operators and private TV channels on implementing CAS.
Representatives of cable operators, Zee Network and other stakeholders all spoke in favour of bringing in CAS. An issue that would of course be worrying the industry is what form the “rules of engagement” will take once Baijal has finalised them. The model he may well follow, say industry sources, is that of the UK’s super regulator, the Federal Office of Communications (Ofcom). If that proves to be the case then it would certainly be appreciated by all those in the industry looking beyond the short term.
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.
