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Trai to issue consultation paper on community radio in one month
MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will bring out a separate consultation paper on community radio within the next two weeks.
The Trai which held an open forum in Mumbai on Saturday to address issues related to the second phase of private FM radio which will be opened up shortly, said community radio has several issues of its own that need to be addressed separately. The Trai, which has been holding open fora in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai this week, has called for suggestions from interested parties on community radio within a week from now.
The information and broadcasting ministry has received several applications since licensees for community radio were thrown open to the public a year ago. However, owing to the tedious clearance procedure, hardly any licensees have been granted, admits TRAI chairman Pradeep Baijal. The consultation paper will attempt to offer a more simple procedure for the clearing of applications, which should open the gates for a flood of community radio stations, says Baijal.
Currently, despite the government’s announcement of the community radio spectrum, only one community radio station is operational at the Anna University in Chennai. Trai advisor Rakesh Kacker, who was also present at the forum, said the focus of the consultation paper would be on getting more non educational institutions to start community radio stations. So far, the government had allowed only educational institutions to operate low power community radio stations.
While community radio stations can be started with a very low cost of infrastructure and require no license fees to be paid to the government, they need to put in place their own sources of revenue and are not allowed to hawk commercial air time.
Community radio, which has caught on big time in several countries worldwide, continues to be a non starter in India due to the complex rules of application and clearance by the various agencies involved. The Trai consultation paper should hopefully provide the answers to the vexed issue.
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.
