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Trai open forum: mandating CAS only way forward
MUMBAI: Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) ended its three-city “open forum” swing, today at a sparsely attended session on CAS, two key points came through. One being that the voluntary introduction of addressability was a nonstarter and if the government was serious, it needed to mandate CAS. The second was that an ombudsman could provide for an improved redressal system.
The session did not cover much by way of new ground and was more a restating of old positions than anything else.A point that came from the consumer side was that “rule making had to be consistent with enforceability”. If Trai had no mechanism to enforce the rules it was outlining, the whole exercise would be so much hot air was the message that came through.
To a demand that interoperability was a must if consumer interests were to be safeguarded, Trai chief Pradip Baijal, who chaired the session said, “An affordable interoperable system does not appear possible.” Renting the set-top was the only practical proposition in the circumstances, he said, if the issue was that consumers should have the choice of migrating to another system (DTH / broadband) or if there was a geographical shift of location.Another point that came through from the cable side was that Trai’s December notification freezing cable rates and the subsequent “clarification” that this did not preclude pay broadcasters from demanding increased connectivity, was patently unfair.
Even as the session winded up, a question from the floor raised a pertinent point. With the new government at the Centre’s two main constituents the Congress and the Left having both expressed their opposition to CAS thus far, was there any point in discussing the issue at all. Baijal’s response was that both political parties had no problems with addressability per se. Their concern was in the mode of implementation. This was quite clear from the interactions that Trai had had with the state governments in Maharashtra (Congress) and West Bengal (Left Front), he claimed.
Well, nothing that came out of the meeting gave any indications that the concerns of the two parties would be assuaged any time soon.
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.
