Latest news with #RohitJain
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Piracy' plague: Celebrities get candid about the threat, impact, and on taking precautionary steps - Exclusive
Piracy has been a silent threat looming over the entertainment industry for decades now. The sad part is that even in the era where digital content flows effortlessly and there are several measures to tackle piracy, this plague isn't slowing down. Its menace extends far beyond the loss of reverence, disrupting the broader ecosystem of the entertainment industry and leaving a big question mark on where we stand on cybersecurity. What is piracy? Piracy is the unlawful duplication, distribution, or utilization of copyrighted content, which encompasses music, films, software, and various types of intellectual property. It is regarded as a type of theft since it violates the rights of the original creators and can result in considerable financial harm to them. The rise of piracy in the digital age In 2023, a report by EY and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) indicated that 51 percent of media consumers in India obtain content through pirated sources, with streaming services accounting for the largest share at 63 percent. "The size of India's piracy economy was Rs 22,400 crore in 2023, ranking fourth against the segment-wise revenue generated by India's Media and Entertainment industry. Of this, Rs 13,700 crore was generated from pirated content from movie theatres, while Rs 8,700 crore was generated from OTT platforms' content. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo The potential GST losses of up to Rs 4,300 crore were estimated to have been incurred," quoted the report. . Rohit Jain, Chairman of IAMAI's Digital Entertainment Committee, added, 'The rapid growth of digital entertainment in India is undeniable, with filmed entertainment expected to reach Rs 14,600 crore by 2026. However, this potential is severely threatened by rampant piracy. It is imperative for all stakeholders -- government bodies, industry players, and consumers--to unite in combating this issue." Later in 2024, Raghav Chadha , an active member of AAP and actor Parineeti Chopra's husband, raised his voice on the matter of piracy in Rajya Sabha. He shared the clip on his social media handle with the caption - 'Piracy is a significant plague that is all pervasive in the film industry and now in OTT world as well.' Sharing some statistics, he added, 'The film industry is facing a loss of Rs 20,000 crore annually because of piracy. Online piracy saw a 62% surge during the pandemic.' 'We passed the Cinematographic (Amendment) Bill, a year back but it lacks a concrete mechanism against online piracy and focuses largely on anti-cam recording in multiplexes. As we go digital with more movies being streamed on platforms, I ask the Government what is being done to curb the issue of digital piracy on OTT and whether the government has any plans to bring a dedicated legislation for the same?' he concluded. Industry weighs in ETimes got in touch with some actors and filmmakers and asked them to speak on the impact of piracy on the industry. They offered a closer look at the domino effect it caused. 'It's like if one production spends, there are 200-300 people that are connected with it, and everyone earns from it. It's not that they don't get money if there is piracy, but it becomes difficult for the production houses to bear something like this next time,' said Munawar Faruqui in his exclusive conversation with us. He added that both the audience and the production houses will have to put some extra effort into reducing piracy and its ill effects, 'So it is like everyone is at a loss if there is piracy, and you said it correctly that piracy is the sad reality, and that is why we want to make good content that travels, even if it's good or bad, piracy should not be done, and the audience should take the responsibility for this.' 'If they want to see entertainment, then they have to make some effort. At the same time, I think production houses make sure that they are making more efforts,' he concluded. Echoing the same sentiment, director Farhan P. Zamma shared, 'Shooting for the promotion only requires almost 10 people. Just imagine they all want to see for free, if you say to remove the ads too, and we will see the pirated version. So how are people going to get paid, and how are they gonna get salaries? Or there will be no motivation to make anything further because until there is revenue, they will not earn anything. So nobody will invest in that business. This is very harsh because no one will get jobs. ' On the other hand, actress Krystle D'souza shared her point of view on the subject, shared how it not only impacts the business but also the image of a movie. 'I honestly feel, there used to be a time when box office collection meant if your film was a hit or miss, and if you didn't get the collection, then your film would be titled as a flop film,' said the actress. She continued, 'That is sad because you know sometimes some good films didn't make it as hits only because of piracy, only because people didn't go to theaters to watch it, but they all wanted to watch it at home and that's just sad for the entire crew, the entire team that put in so much of effort and energy to make a film.' A fight against piracy - One step at a time The bigger the movie, the more chances of piracy. Be it one of South's biggest blockbusters, like 'Pushpa 2', or a controversial political biopic like 'Emergency,' in recent times, it has been observed that either the movie gets leaked online before the release, or a pirated version of it reaches the web. Considering all this, Aamir Khan , who gave his 2025's highly anticipated film 'Sitaare Zameen Par', employed all the right efforts to fight piracy. "We have appointed anti-piracy teams who remove pirated links from the internet. The pay-per-view model I'm introducing, where people can watch a film for Rs 100, may help reduce piracy. It also gives some hope to creative people. It will not bring any change to the theatre chain because the experience is completely different," he told IANS. Conclusion The war against piracy extends beyond legal measures. It is more about awareness, accountability, and appreciation for creative works. Industry voices emphasize that each pirated download or stream undermines not only box office sales but also the livelihoods and morale of those involved in storytelling. In the current scenario, there is a dire need for stricter regulations, anti-piracy initiatives, and innovative viewing options, along with the audience's support. While the journey may be difficult, a collaborative effort from creators, lawmakers, and consumers can help mitigate the impact of piracy, allowing art to flourish, stories to motivate, and the industry to expand.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Celebration of heritage
Members of the Dunedin Indian community gather during last year's Independence Day celebrations. PHOTO: MARTYN BUYCK Indian heritage will soon be celebrated at a joyful community event. The Dunedin Indian Association will mark Indian Independence Day with a community gathering on Sunday, August 17, at the University of Otago Union Hall. Indian Independence Day marks the end of British rule over the Indian subcontinent on August 15, 1947, when the independent dominions of India and Pakistan were created. Dunedin Indian Association president Dr Rohit Jain said the association was delighted to welcome the wider community to the cultural gathering. The event from 1pm to 4pm will foster community spirit and share India's rich cultural identity with all Dunedin residents. The afternoon will begin with a proud and solemn flag-hoisting ceremony, followed by cultural performances showcasing India's diverse arts and traditions. Information and community stalls will be set up around the hall, and quizzes and games will provide a fun way to explore the subcontinent's history and culture. Dr Jain said the association wanted the event to be as welcoming as possible, encouraging people of every background to attend, participate and learn more about India's history and contemporary Indian life. Artists and contributors are being sought for a programme of dance, music, poetry or other art forms that reflect Indian culture. Children and adults are also invited to take part in a fancy-dress section, dressing in traditional attire or as notable Indian personalities. Further details, including how to register to perform or enter the costume section, are available at
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Issue guidelines within three months for safe collection, transport of medical samples, Delhi HC tells Centre
In a move that could significantly improve diagnostic accuracy and patient safety, the Delhi High Court has directed the Union government to notify long-pending minimum standards in the collection of medical samples or specimens by laboratories and collection centres, and guidelines to transport them, within the next three months. The order, if implemented, could help curb inaccuracy in test reports, especially when the samples are collected from the home of a patient, experts said. It could also reduce unsafe handling of biological specimens, and treatment errors caused by degraded samples, potentially saving lives, they added. Currently, India lacks specific regulations governing how medical samples, such as blood, urine, or swabs, are collected, stored, and transported to diagnostic laboratories. This regulatory gap has led to widespread inconsistencies, particularly with private labs and home sample collection services that operate without strict oversight. Wrong results 'Patients often assume their test results are scientifically reliable. But when samples are exposed to extreme heat or delayed in reaching the lab, the entire result can become invalid — without anyone realising it,' Dr. Rohit Jain, who had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue in 2019, said. 'Wrong results lead to wrong treatment. That's not just unethical — it's dangerous,' Dr. Jain said. The High Court, while hearing Dr. Jain's plea on July 18, recorded the Union Health Ministry's assurance that the draft minimum standards, which the Ministry said had already been approved by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), were in advanced stages of being notified. The plea, filed through advocate Mrinmoi Chatterjee, stated that despite the directions of the Delhi HC in January 2023, no guidelines on minimum standards for sample collection had been formulated by the Centre. The Health Ministry, in its latest status report to the court, said the draft minimum standards were currently undergoing legal vetting by the Legislative Department of the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. The Ministry said four expert sub-committees had been formed with specialists in pathology, biochemistry, haematology, and microbiology to formulate 'minimum standards for sample collection and sample transport policy'. Once approved by the National Council for Clinical Establishments, after public consultation, the process of publishing the guidelines in the The Gazette of India would be initiated. The Ministry additionally said two guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV) during the COVID-19 pandemic were currently in place which, when read in conjunction with the draft minimum standards, offer comprehensive laboratory guidance in maintaining biosafety and ensuring quality specimen handling. But Dr. Jain remains sceptical. 'These draft standards have been stuck for two years. Meanwhile, nothing has changed on the ground,' he said. 'There are aggregators and collection agents who have no medical training, collecting samples from people's homes. They don't refrigerate them, don't process them in time, and no one is tracking how long it takes before the sample reaches the lab,' Dr. Jain said, when asked why private laboratories should self-regulate. According to him, there are well-established scientific windows within which samples must be analysed —sometimes within 30 to 60 minutes of collection. 'In Delhi's 45°C heat, a delay of even a few hours can completely distort test results. But the government has no binding standard for this. So why would private labs regulate themselves?' he said. The ICMR has issued specific guidelines for transporting specimens related to high-risk pathogens and samples for COVID-19, but those, he said, were limited in scope and not enforceable across all clinical establishments. 'Lab test results influence over 70% of treatment decisions globally. When they are wrong, they harm patients and erode trust in the medical system,' Dr. Jain added. 'There is no law specifically [for sample collection and transport], which is why this petition was filed. We want guidelines to be released by the government,' Alok Ahuja, former Professor of Pathology, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, told The Hindu. 'The quality of samples must be maintained and guidelines must be instituted. To have a law is the need of the hour,' he added. 'I am very happy that the court has been very positive to the demands of the pathologist that a law must be instituted,' Dr. Ahuja said.
Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Why minimum standards for handling diagnostic samples are important
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) last week assured the Delhi High Court that it will soon notify minimum clinical standards for collection, handling, and transport of diagnostic samples. The MoHFW said that subject experts held 'detailed internal deliberations for formulating minimum standards' following which the draft minimum standards were finalised. The policy is currently being vetted by the legislative department of the Ministry of Law & Justice, the MoHFW told the court. Existing Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines on collection and handling of clinical samples are rudimentary and piecemeal. For instance, the Pune-based ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) has specific 'Guidelines for collection, packaging and transport of specimens for testing for high risk viral pathogens', which include guidelines for handling samples containing Covid-19 virus. These guidelines, however, are not comprehensive: they only relate to handling of specific 'high risk' viruses. These are also not uniformly enforced owing to gaps in the law governing labs and sample collection centres, as well as its enforcement. Medical professionals have long been calling for reform; the MoHFW's soon-to-be-notified policy seeks to answer this call. Beyond lack of comprehensive clinical guidelines, experts have pointed to a couple of significant loopholes vis-à-vis the medical testing ecosystem. 🔴 First is the continued existence of standalone collection centres. In 2018, the Centre had notified that sample collection centres should be part of the main laboratories, and that the parent laboratories should be held accountable for their compliance of norms. But in the absence of clear-cut standards, standalone collection centres continue to be registered in various states, posing a fundamental problem when it comes to ensuring compliance with clinical standards. In November 2020, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) had flagged that 'there are mismatches in the declaration (of samples) made by (accredited) lab to NABL and the actual collection centres/facilities/sources of collection which are available on their websites or other documents'. At the time, it advised labs to declare all sample collection centres within 30 days, and cautioned that 'any sample collection not under the responsibility of the lab and not covered under its (quality) management system is non-compliant with the accreditation norms and liable to action by NABL.' The MoHFW's new policy will likely address this issue. 🔴 Experts have also called for revisiting current laws guiding 'who' can collect samples and issue reports. In 2019, pathologist Dr Rohit Jain moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2018, specifically on minimum requirements for signatory authorities in diagnostic laboratories. He sought implementation of a 2017 order of the Supreme Court, which said that a lab report should be counter-signed only by a registered medical practitioner with a post graduate qualification in pathology. At the time, he also sought guidelines on minimum standards for medical diagnostic labs with regard to sample collection centres, sample transport, electronic signatures on pathological reports by authorised signatories, number of pathology labs a pathologist can visit in a day and on daily internal quality control. But the Centre's Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020 did not address the issue, allowing 'unqualified and unregistered non-medical persons viz MSc/PhD were authorised to issue pathology reports without the signature/counter signature of a pathologist,' according to Jain. Jain challenged these amended rules, and in August 2021, also moved court highlighting an RT-PCR testing 'scam' during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar that year where one lakh fake tests were reportedly conducted on devotees by unqualified intermediaries. 'The accused diagnostic labs in Delhi and Haryana were able to collect samples and conduct a huge number of tests where they have no sample collection centres at Uttarakhand. It is clear that a scam of such enormity has only been possible because of the lack of essential minimum standards on the issue of sample collection/sample collection centres and sample transport policy,' Jain had argued in his submission. In 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre to consider Jain's plea as a representation and decide a solution in three months. In May 2023, the government held a meeting under the chairmanship of the Additional Director-General of Health Services, New Delhi, where Jain too was invited to make his representation. After the meeting, the government decided to constitute four sub-committees of experts — pathology, biochemistry, hematology and microbiology — to define standards of procedure (SOPs) for sample collection, collection centres and sample transport policy. When these guidelines were not notified even a year later, Jain in May 2024 moved the Delhi High Court again, accusing the government of wilful disobedience of the court's order. It is in this matter that the MoHFW has now assured the court that a policy will be notified at the earliest. Taking the ministry's submission on record, the court instructed that the standards be notified expeditiously, with a direction that the process 'may be accomplished within the next three months'.
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Diagnostic labs will soon have to follow standards for sample collection, transport: Here's why the Govt move is important
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is in the process of notifying the minimum clinical standards for handling and transport of diagnostic samples, with the policy currently undergoing legal vetting by the legislative department of the Ministry of Law & Justice. It gave this assurance at the Delhi High Court last week. That's because existing guidelines by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on processes for collection, packaging and transport of clinical specimens to maximum containment (Biosafety Level 4) laboratories are rudimentary. The broad framework concerns sample collection such as wearing of PPEs, triple packaging and its supervision, discarding used consumables among others. The norms are no different for Covid-19 sample collection and transport, touching only upon its collection and labelling. In 2018, the government had notified that collection centres should be part of the main laboratories and that the parent laboratories should be held accountable for their compliance of norms. The notification had clarified that collection centres would not be registered separately but as a component of the main laboratory. However, in the absence of clear-cut standards, even adherence to this provision remains scarce, with registration of standalone collection centres in various states. In November 2020, amid Covid-19, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, a board under Quality Control of India (QCI), had flagged that 'there are mismatches in the declaration (of samples) made by (accredited) lab to NABL and the actual collection centres/facilities/sources of collection which are available on their websites or other documents.' At the time, it had advised labs to declare all sample collection centres/facilities/sources in 30 days. It had further cautioned that 'any sample collection not under the responsibility of the lab and not covered under its (quality) management system is non-compliant with the accreditation norms and liable to action by NABL.' It had further advised all labs to review such arrangements to ensure these are in line with norms for accreditation. In 2019, pathologist Dr Rohit Jain moved the Delhi High Court, challenged the Clinical Establishments (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2018, especially on the aspect of minimum standards for signatory authority in diagnostic laboratories. He sought implementation of a 2017 order of the Supreme Court, which said that a lab report should be counter-signed only by a registered medical practitioner with a post graduate qualification in pathology. At the time, he also sought guidelines on minimum standards for medical diagnostic labs with regard to sample collection centres, sample transport, electronic signatures on pathological reports by authorised signatories, number of pathology labs a pathologist can visit in a day and on daily internal quality control. In February 2020, the Centre notified the Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020, under which, according to Dr Jain, 'unqualified and unregistered non-medical persons viz MSc/PhD were authorised to issue pathology reports without the signature/counter signature of a pathologist.' Apart from challenging these amended rules, Dr Jain also moved court in August 2021, highlighting an RT-PCR testing scam in Kumbh Mela where reportedly about one lakh fake tests were conducted on devotees after intermediaries were given contracts. 'The accused diagnostic labs in Delhi and Haryana were able to collect samples and conduct a huge number of tests where they have no sample collection centres at Uttarakhand. It is clear that a scam of such enormity has only been possible because of the lack of essential minimum standards on the issue of sample collection/sample collection centres and sample transport policy,' Dr Jain had argued in his submission. He had also highlighted that the accused labs were not registered under the Act either. In 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre to consider Dr Jain's plea as a representation and decide within three months. In May 2023, the government held a meeting under the chairmanship of the Additional Director-General of Health Services, New Delhi, where Dr Jain too was invited to make his representation. They decided to constitute four sub-committees of experts — pathology, biochemistry, hematology and microbiology – to define standards of procedure (SOPs) for sample collection, collection centres and sample transport policy. However, these guidelines weren't notified. So a year later, in May 2024, Dr Jain moved the Delhi High Court again, accusing the government of wilful disobedience of the court's order. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has now told the Delhi High Court that it is in the process of notifying the minimum clinical standards for handling and transport of diagnostic samples, with the policy currently undergoing legal vetting by the Legislative Department of Ministry of Law and Justice. It also told the court that currently the guidelines of ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) are in place, which include rules for collection, packaging and transport of specimens for testing for high-risk viral pathogens, as well as guidelines for collection, packaging and transport for the COVID-19 virus. According to MOHFW, the subject experts held 'detailed internal deliberations for formulating minimum standards for sample collection and sample transport policy,' following which the draft minimum standards were technically finalized and were also technically approved by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS). 'The minimum standards for sample collection centres, as approved by the NCCE, are in the advanced stages of being notified in the Gazette of India. The draft minimum standards for sample collection centres are currently under legal vetting by the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice,' the MOHFW said in its submission. The National Council for Clinical Establishments (NNCE), a statutory body under the Clinical Establishments Act, is working with the aim of developing minimum standards and their periodic review. Taking the ministry's submission on record, the court instructed that the standards be notified expeditiously, with a direction that the process 'may be accomplished within the next three months.'
