Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh,March 17: The two-day 5th Global Public Relations Conclave opened here today at Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh. About 150 communication practitioners from India and abroad are participating in this meet organized by Public Relations Council of India (PRCI). Education Minister Punjab, Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan formally inaugurated the meet, while Mr. Raj Chengappa, Editor in Chief of The Tribune Group delivered the keynote address on the theme “PR in Challenging Times of Today”, Mr. Scott Slessor, Consul General of Canada was the guest of honour. On the occasion, prestigious annual Chanakya Awards were presented to some of the leading professionals and organizations for their contribution to the field of communication. Some of the senior public relations practitioners were also inducted into the coveted PRCI Hall of Fame.Noted speakers included Mr. Mathew Hibbert, University of Stirling, Scotland, Mr. Yogesh Joshi, communication head of Tata Steels, Coca Cola’s vice president Mr. Deepak Jolly and Ms. Renuka Kakkar, Communications Head, Apeejay Group on the first day of the meet. Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) is one of the largest communities of public relations practitioners in the country which is engaged in providing training, setting standards of professional excellence, and uphold principals of ethics. As a leading voice in the industry, PRCI also advocates for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services.
Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) at the 5th Global PR Conclave being held in the city, honoured two city personalities with their annual Chanakya Awards.
Noted industrialist and former world president of Rotary International Mr.Rajendra K. Saboo was conferred the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award for his contribution to the society and raising the image of the country by taking various medical missions abroad.
The Additional Principal Secretary to CM Haryana and Principal Secretary for Information and PR, Mr. K.K. Khandelwal, was the second recipient from the region who was honoured with Chanakya Award for “Good Governance and Public Administration”. Mr. Khandelwal had been instrumental in strengthening the government public relations department and reviving two of its prestigious publications ‘Haryana Review’ and ‘Haryana Samvad’.
The awards were given by S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Education, Punjab who was the chief guest and Mr. Scott Slessor, Consul General of Canada, the guest of honour for the evening.
The veteran advertiser, Bunty Peer Bhoy, CEO, MAA, Bangalore, was honoured with Dr. K.R.Singh Lifetime Achievement Award.
Amongst other 11 Chanakya Awards this years, the winners included Mr. Gaurav Gupta, Managing Director, Kartnataka State Road Transport Corporation, Mr. Vikram Kelkar, Director International Business Development of Hexagon Nutrition, Mumbai; Dr. Vizai Saradhi, Director HR, Hindustan Petroleum, and Dr. Shashikanth Shukla, former faculty of Hindu Makhanlal University, Bhopal, Mr. Abhijit Sarkar, Director Corporate Communications, Sahara Parivar, and Mr. J. Gopal Krishnan, The Pioneer, New Delhi, who broke the 2G scam story.
Amongst the organizations the local public relations agency, CorePR, was adjudged the Most Promising PR Agency of the Year, while Concept PR of Mumbai won the PR Agency of the year Award.
Several senior public relations practitioners and communicators were inducted into the Hall of Fame, which included Mrs. Renuka B. Salwan, Deputy Director Public Relations of Bureau of Indian Standards from Chandigarh.
The host of the conclave, Mr. Charanjit Singh, of CorePR, said in his welcome speech, “We have galaxy of PR practitioners & professionals here today in Chandigarh from whole of India & also from UK & Canada. I welcome them all. We, in this two day conclave, will be discussing the problems faced by the PR these days. PR these days is not just confined to wine & dine but to lot more than that. A good PR is that who connects the two platforms or makes a bridge between the two corporates.” He also added that a success mantra for being a leading PR is to keep the pace with the change.
Mr. Raj Chengappa, Editor in Chief, of The Tribune, Chandigarh was the guest speaker on the occasion, who in his brief but effective speech described his experience in the field of journalism. He also explained how to maintain a good relation with you readers. He said, “today one has to be as interactive as possible to be with one’s reader. These days you cant just sit in your office, think of a news and publish it. One has to be in connivance with the public. gather facts about a news & deliver facts to your readers. Who, How & What to do should be the approach these days, only then one can compete in the challenging times of today.” He also added that PR should look into the honour and sophisticative approach in today’s competitive world.
Minister of Education, Punjab, S. Sewa Singh Sekhwan said, ” I am very happy to be here today, as it reminds me of those very days of my first ever portfolio of PR, Punjab government. I am grateful to the conclave to have honored me as the chief guest for today’s function. It is not only today that PR is there, but in the ancient times even great Kings use to conduct PR activities like holding Open “Darbaar’s” where he used to listen to the grievances of the people. Great king Akbar is the best example of a perfect PR from those days. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also used to regularly hold open Darbaar to interact with his people so that their problems could be removed. Even the kings would make sure that his words should reach each and every ear of his “praja”. Mr. Minster also gave away the mementos to the awardees for their contribution in the work of PR.
This conclave will be held for two days, on 17 &18 March.