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Trai likely to recommend 5-8 % hike in cable rates
NEW DELHI: Broadcast and cable regulator, Trai, is expected to recommend a 5-8 per cent annual hike in the cable TV prices, in line with the yearly rise in inflation for the calendar year 2004.
The new prices will come into effect from 26 December and an announcement will be made before that.
“We cannot keep the cable prices frozen forever and there would be some increase in the pricing. We expect the annual hike to be equivalent to the consumer price index rise or the annual increase in inflation,” Trai chief Pradip Baijal said today.
Quizzed whether the price revision could work out to between 5-8 per cent as increase in inflation, Baijal agreed saying, “It should be in that region.”
Though Telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today issued The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff Order 2004, effective from today itself, the prices are to be kept in the coolers till new rates or a formula to calculate it is announced by Trai.
The regulator is reviewing the subscription charges that were frozen since December 26, 2003. Trai said in a statement today: “This revision is expected to be completed in November 2004, so that it can take effect from 26 December 2004, that is one year from the date from which the prices had been frozen.”
The authority through its order dated 15 January, 2004 and subsequent amendments had specified that the all cable TV-related charges (excluding taxes) were being frozen as of 26 December 2003.
A number of representations had been received seeking clarification on the manner in which new pay channels can be priced and the impact on retail prices. Similarly, clarifications have also been sought on the impact of channels that were free-to-air on 26 December, 2003 and having later converted to pay.
According to Trai, this issue has been carefully considered by the authority. Since new channels will be coming into the market, a mechanism has to be provided for pricing of these new channels. At the same time, there is a need to conserve the protection provided to the consumers by the Tariff Order dated 15 January, 2004.
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.
