Women's Wing

Launch of

PUBLIC RELATIONS WOMEN’S WING

by PRSI, Hyderabad Chapter

“So long as Women in India do not take equal part with men in the affairs of the World and in religious, social and political matters, we shall not see India’s star rising”

– Mahatma Gandhi

Women in India

The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful.

As per 2011 census, for every 1000 males, there are 914 females as against 933 in 2001 and 927 in 1991. Sex-ratio (number of female per 1,000 male) is an indicator of women's status in the society. Whatever is the fluctuation, women constitute at least 48% of the total population.

Socio-economic Status

Amongst the male and female population, there is a wide disparity in literacy. The male literacy rate is 75.96% and female literacy rate is 54.28%. The social system in India promotes education for the male gender while the female population, especially in the interiors of the country, is kept away from schools.

A woman is the first teacher of a Child - Women have many more communication events a day -- gestures, words and that sort of things than a man. A study conducted by PsychTests Inc. reveals that women in general are better at communicating than men. Women scored higher than men on various measures of communication skills, specifically, the ability to listen, empathize, talk openly about feelings, consider the opinions of others etc. 

The percentage of women in occupations including public relations, advertising, writing and design all hold more than 50 percent of the total jobs in United States. Results of another study show that women were drawn to the field because they had the natural skills and ability to do the work. With the concept of gender equality, since the late 1970s women are being attracted to the field of communications in great numbers. In recent years this trend continued with the percentage of women employees in nearly every area of communications increasing year after year. We witness today in the west, the era of feminization of public relations.

In our country, the dominant fields of women are Health & Education while their presence is tangibly felt in Family Planning, Rural Development, and Hotel & Hospitality management. Though women are natural and better communicators than men, they lack skills. If provided with communication skills, they are the best communicators.

Women in Public Relations

While the Society is thus, the present ratio of women members in Public Relations Society of India is less than 5%. Therefore, the Hyderabad Chapter of PRSI decided to constitute a Women's wing which would necessitate identification, enrollment and to accommodating the women working in the areas of public relations, advertising, journalism, media, mass communication, management, customer/client relations, hotel and hospital management and students pursuing studies in the above fields

Hyderabad Chapter of Public Relations Society of India is always ahead of its counter-parts in promoting public relations in the country. In keeping with its mandate, the chapter intended to provide exclusive space for women as suggested by Dr CV Narasimha Reddi. This has been strengthened at the National Public Relations Day Celebrations held on 21st April 2011, where Smt. D.K. Aruna, Hon’ble Minister for Information and Public Relations, Government of Andhra Pradesh attended as Chief Guest and fully supported the new concept.

In order to proceed with the concept, several exercises were made by the Chapter Executive Committee. Taking into various aspects in view, Sri Y Babji, Past Chapter Chairman prepared a draft for placing it before the AGM scheduled on 19^th June 2011 for its approval.

Suggestions are solicited on the objectives and the composition of women’s wing to make it a vibrant body “by the women, of the women and for the women” in the field of communication.

In order to proceed further with framing of rules and regulations, a committee will be constituted with the following namely NL Narasimha Rao as Convener and Y Babji and Krishna Baji as Members.

Women’s Wing

Wing

Wherever there is a mention of ‘Wing’ it shall be read as “Women’s Wing of PRSI, Hyderabad Chapter”

Objectives

a) To upgrade professional skills of women personnel of Communication and Public Relations working in various organizations;

b) To provide a platform for exchange of views and experiences in the field of mass communication;

c) To organize training programmes and workshops etc., for the benefit of women PR professionals;

d) To create awareness on the legal rights of women and the key components of empowerment of women &

e) To educate people on violence against women in particular the domestic violence and other social issues like female foeticide, infanticide, dowry death etc

Structure and composition of Executive Committee

There shall be an Executive Committee for the Women’s Wing. The Chapter Chairman (present), in consultation with Chapter Executive Committee and National Council Members of the Chapter will nominate active women members from the fields of Public Relations, Journalism & Management (teaching and practising) to the following positions.

Some senior celebrities/successful women, not more than 3 will be the Advisors to this Women’s wing.

The Chapter Chairman of PRSI, Hyderabad Chapter will act as the Ex-officio Chairman of this Wing.

There shall be one Executive Chairperson, two Executive Vice Chairpersons, one Executive Secretary, two Executive Joint Secretaries and nine Executive Members in the Women’s wing. Thus the total no. of executive is Fifteen excluding Advisors & Ex-officio Chairman.

Membership

To become a member of this women’s wing, the membership and other rules governing the members of PRSI will apply as per the constitution of Hyderabad Chapter of PRSI.

The Executive Committee of the Wing shall identify, pursue and enroll women members from all the above mentioned fields as the members of the Chapter. The women members thus enrolled will automatically become the members of the Wing.

Term of Office

There will not be any elections to the positions of the Wing. The term of office of the Executive Committee of Women’s wing is 2 years. The Chapter Chairman elected for the term will nominate the Executive Committee of the Women’s wing within one month from the date of his election, following the composition and structure mentioned above.

Funds

The Executive Committee of the Wing may raise funds by way of sponsorships for organizing its programs. The sponsorship money so raised shall first be credited into the account of the Chapter. All the expenditure incurred for organizing programmes etc shall be brought to the books of the Chapter. 

Logo & Official stationery

There shall be a separate logo for the Wing. It shall mean and depict a woman or women empowerment. The logo of PRSI shall invariably be used along with the logo so created on all the official stationery of the wing.

Correspondence

All the correspondence of the Wing shall be signed and made either by the Executive Chairman or the Executive Secretary of the Wing. A copy of each correspondence shall be marked to the Chapter for record. 

Meetings & Programmes

The Executive Committee of the Wing will have its EC meetings once in a month on the same day and place along with Chapter Executive Committee meeting.

The Wing shall organize at least one program per quarter and not less than four in a calendar year on a topic to be decided by the Executive Chairperson of the Wing in consultation with the Chapter Chairman.