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Independent body to do CAS-related cost survey
NEW DELHI: Taking due note of the mounting pressure from the cable fraternity, the Indian government piloted task force on conditional access has agreed to rope in an outside agency to survey the various contentious parameters on which the costing of the basic tier of cable service would be done.
According to sources, the surveyor will be selected by the information and broadcasting ministry and is likely to begin work by the weekend or early next week. The names of agencies which cropped up during the over three – hour meeting today include- PriceWaterhouse Coopers, ORG-Marg and a Tata company, according to task force sources.
The survey, having a specified time frame of four-five days, would be carried out in Delhi and Kolkata.
The finance ministry earlier had come to the conclusion that the cost of the basic tier of free to air channels in a post CAS regime would be Rs 45.90 (exclusive of local and entertainment taxes).
The cable operators in the task force and elsewhere had dubbed the figure “too low” and disputed the parameters used to arrive at this cost, which were said to be “far from the ground reality.”
For example, one of the most contentious parameters was a cable network’s coverage area where the finance ministry used the parameter of a radius of 7.5 km with 32,000-odd homes passed through by the cable. These parameters were used to determine the cost incurred by a cable operator in providing the cable service.
The cable fraternity, in turn claims, that no individual cable network in India covers over 30,000 cable TV homes and that the radius should be 4.8 km.
At today’s meeting, where most of the time was taken up by discussions on this topic, the government representative, who heads the panel, is also said to have asked the broadcasters whether they are ready with the maximum retail price of pay channels in their respective bouquet and whether there is a chance of any pay channel turning free to air.
According to sources, the broadcasters’ lobby said that individual companies are internally studying the situation and would come up with the relevant information soon.
Meanwhile, the cable operators across the country, especially those in the four metros where CAS is being sought to be implemented in the first phase, are trying to put up a semblance of unity as they feel threatened that a low price of the basic tier would ultimately kill their business.
According to Rakesh Dutta, a task force member and a Delhi cable operator, a resolution, signed by 1,500-odd cable ops from cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore and Kolkata states that cable operators would be unable to carry on their business if the price of the basic tier is below their cost of operation.
The relevant part of the resolution, submitted to the government today, reads, “We unanimously declare we shall be unable to carry on our business at a price which is below our cost of operation, which stands at Rs. 180 per month (per subscriber), as already submitted (earlier) to the members of the task force.”
The chairman of the task force today criticised the agitation, including dharnas and press conferences (held yesterday under the aegis of the Cable Operators United Front in Delhi), being organised by a section of cable operators having so-called allegiance to a particular MSO, saying that shouting slogans against the task force or the government would not solve any problem.
Still, it is learnt that the venue of today’s task force meeting was besieged by a sizeable number of cable operators who are not members of the task force, but want their voice to be heard and also get first hand information of what transpired behind closed doors.
The next meeting of the task force would depend on the outside agency’s report and feedback on various aspects of cable business.
(1$ =Rs 47.73 )
See related story :
Finance ministry moots Rs 46 FTA price
CAS task force formed; to meet 7 Feb
Basic tier task force compositon to be fixed today
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.
