Friday, May 6, 2011

SILVER JUBILEE OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DAY

NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DAY : 21-4-2011

The Public Relations Society of India, a national professional body of PR practitioners was established in 1958 with Kali H. Mody as Founder President, as a move to formulate and interpret the objectives and potentialities of Public Relations as a profession and also to undertake professional development programs.

The Public Relations Society of India functioned as an informal body till 1966 when it was registered under the Indian Societies Act. The father figure of Public Relations profession, Farrok S. Mullah who became the President of the professional body in 1966 left an indelible mark on the map of Indian public relations by organizing the First All India Public Relations Conference on April 21, 1968 in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by the then Speaker, Lok Sabha, Dr. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. The theme of the conference was ‘Professional Approach’. On the same day three Presidents of Foreign Public Relations Associations viz., Public Relations Society of America; International Public Relations Association, London and the European Federation of Public Relations Association attended this conference and enabled the Indian public relations to develop global contacts.

One of the highlights of this day was the adoption of the ‘Code of Athens’, the internationally accepted Code of Ethics for Indian public relations professionals as presented by Dr. Albert Oeckl, the then President, International Public Relations Association. The sapling of professional body planted by Farrok S. Mullah at the First All India PR Conference grew into a mighty 53 year old public relations tree with 33 Regional Chapters and 32 All India Public Relations Conferences, the last one held in Kolkata during December, 2010.

Keeping in view the significance of April 21, 1968 the then National President, Public Relations Society of India Dr. C. V. Narasimha Reddi gave a call to observe the day as National Public Relations Day in 1986 which is being celebrated every year with different themes. As National Public Relations Day completed 25 years, the Silver Jubilee Year of the Day is being observed this year with the theme “Ethics in Governance and Business: Public Relations Perspective”.

This year the National Public Relations Day was organised on the theme " Ethics in Governance and Business: Public Relations Perspective" jointly by PRSI, Hyderabad Chapter and GFPR National Council at Surana Auditorium, FAPCCI, Red Hills, Hyderabad where Smt DK Aruna, Hon'ble Minister for Information & Public Relations, Govt of AP attended as Chief Guest and Sis BK Radhika, Chief of Nagarjuna Management Centre as Guest of Honour. Dr CV Narasimha Reddi presided the program.

At the function, Smt G Aneeja, Technical Officer & PRO of NAARM, Hyderabad was conferred with Dr CVNR's "Best Public Relations Manager of the year" award. Prof Ujjwal K Choudhary, Executive Director of ISB&M, Pune was conferred with GFPR's "Golden Triangle" award. Sri KMK Rao, AGM (Rtd), HMT was also recognised at the occasion and his book "Nannu Nenu Diddukuntu" was also released by the Chief Guest.

The following pledge was taken by members of PRSI & GFPR on the occasion

I ………………………………………………………… Member, Public Relations Society of India/Global Forum for Public Relations do solemnly pledge to conduct myself professionally with integrity, truth, accuracy and responsibility in the service of public relations.

I shall endeavor to update my knowledge and skills through continuing learning process as to communicate effectively the mission of my organization to both internal and external stakeholders for promoting mutual understanding.

I do commit to abide by the code of professional ethics as to maintain the dignity and credibility of our professional body and the profession.

XI APPR Conference

Political Consensus for National Problems

The 11th Andhra Pradesh Public Relations Conference based on the theme “One India: One Voice” – For a Prosperous and Democratic Nation” was organised by Hyderabad Chapter of Public Relations Society of India, with a Six Point Declaration urging all political parties including UPA and NDA to arrive at a consensus on eradicating corruption, poverty and sustaining India as the largest democracy in the world.

In his inaugural address Justice G. Raghuram, Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court said ‘ when India and its citizens imbibe the sense of democratic values, social responsibility and personal integrity; learn that liberty is not license, the ability of each member to accommodate the rights, aspirations and apprehensions of others; work culture, the ability to see the larger picture instead of preoccupation with ever increasing insularities, the conduct of Indians and behavior will bear the true impress of maturity, wisdom and social evolution. He exhorted PR practitioners to update their knowledge with the newer modes of communication like social networking sites and blogs to reach the people on national issues.

Six Point Declaration

Dr. CV Narasimha Reddi, Conference Chairman, presented the six point declaration at the valedictory session when National PR Awards for excellence in House Journals, Annual Reports, Websites, e-zines were presented. N L Narasimha Rao, Chapter Chairman seconded the declaration.

1. All Political Parties including UPA and NDA must arrive at a consensus on national problems such as eradication of corruption and poverty.

2. The Parliament, the lifeblood of our democracy must run with dignity as envisaged in the Constitution

3. Predictions say India will be number one economy in the world surpassing China. Eradicate Poverty and bring social justice by bridging the yawning gap between the people of Below the Poverty Line and Above the Poverty Lines. It was felt in this context; the growth must accompany re-distribution of wealth to attain equitability

4. Contain corruption by promoting transparency, responsiveness and accountability in governance

5. Terrorism is a major threat to democracy and development. It must be dealt with an iron hand with support of one and all

6. The Government of India with the concurrence of all political parties must formulate a National Public Communication Policy with a separate stream of rural public relations to inform, educate both urban and rural masses as partners in democratic and development process, besides projecting India as a Global Economic Player.