PRCI NOW Channel is up

Our own channel - PRCI NOW - is up and running.
Please check the photo album of Kolkata Conclave right away, with music and enjoy the golden movements that we experienced.

Will shortly upload some videos too.

Request all of you to keep sending good pictures and albums (by CD, if you have more than ten pictures to share with PRCI fraternity).

Enjoy!

Editor

Breaking News @ PRCI Conclave: Railway broadband to reach 500,000 homes in 2 years

This story by IANS on our 10th Global Communication Conclave has been well received by media from across the world with over 2,400 web sites carrying it.

RailTel Aims to Connect 500,000 Households With Its Broadband Project

Indo-Asian News Service , 27 January 27il

Carving a niche for itself in the Connected India-2020 project, Railtel Corporation's broadband will reach 500,000 households through its Railwire network providing a host of services at the block level in the next two years, a top railway official has said.

The Broadband Highway will involve a three-layer network - state capitals to district headquarters, district to sub-divisional and then to gram panchayats which will be joined to the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN), Pradeep Kumar, executive director (East) of RailTel Corporation of India, told a Global Communication Conclave in Kolkata.

The Conclave, 10th in a series organised by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), conducted a knowledge forum with the theme 'Digital Now- What Next'.

(Also see:  Google, RailTel's Free Public Wi-Fi Service Launched at Mumbai Central)

Pradeep Kumar said Railwire network architecture provides the answer for 'What Next' as it will empower the people at village level with knowledge, skill development and core competencies. "This will lead to good governance and transparent, corruption-free governments."

RailTel's pan-India optic fibre network covers 4,400-plus railway stations across 44,300km.

Railwire has also begun to tap the local cable operators focussing on pure-play broadband and VPN services, content and application-driven network. "Our aim is to become a hub of local information and tool for rendering communication, infotainment, education, health and community services to the masses," Pradeep Kumar said.

In Eastern India alone, RailTel seeks to cover 36,000 gram panchayats and the broadband services include emails, online newspapers, online passport application, tele-medicine, examination results and net surfing for students with a minimum 2Mbps speed.

The company's pilot projects at Panisagar and Girania in Tripura have aroused a lot of interest and enthusiasm, Pradeep Kumar said.

For the Railways itself, RailTel provides mission-critical services such as computerised passenger reservation and ticketing system.

West Bengal Women's Welfare and Child Development Minister Sashi Panja, who inaugurated the two-day conclave, focussed on communicators' role in ensuring the safety of women and children. In this context, she appreciated PRCI for setting up an internal compliance cell as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act makes it mandatory for all organisations to have such cells.

Explaining the significance of the conclave theme, PRCI national president and veteran media professional B.N. Kumar said it was important for communication professionals to keep themselves updated with the latest technology trends to be able to meet ever-increasing challenges.

PRCI also focuses on skill development for communication professionals by expanding its operations and network not only across India but globally as well, he said.

PRCI chairman emeritus and chief mentor M.B. Jayaram said it was high time that the PR professionals thought big, embraced emerging challenges and converted them into opportunities and moved towards a digital-first approach. The organization will soon initiate collaborative programmes with various business and technology forums to help the professionals upgrade their skills.

PRCI, on the occasion, felicitated national achievers from among communication professionals with its coveted Chanakya awards, inducted senior practitioners into PR Hall of fame and presented a host of collateral awards at the conclave.

Ujjivan Financial Services won the Corporate Citizen award, while Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals was given the innovative leadership award. Dainik Bhaskar Bhopal was given the excellence in social leadership award while Businessworld fortnightly was adjudged the Magazine of the Year.

The World of PR in City of Joy

                         10^th Global Communication Conclave attracts good traction

KOLKATA: The two-day 10^th Global Communication Conclave hosted  by Kolkata, the City of Joy, was indeed a joyous experience.

Held on January 22 -23, 2016, the Conclave had a large number of PR, media, HR, Advertising professionals, mass communication academicians and students attending.

West Bengal Minister for Women Welfare and Child Development Ms Sashi Panja was the chief guest who along other dignitaries  such as Swami Jitatmananda Maharaj, Vice President, Ramkrishna Math, lighted the traditional lamp to mark opening of the Conclave.

The Conclave paid glowing tributes to late PRCI Governing Council Chairman N D Rajpal who passed away recently. His daughter Shweta fondly recalled his memories and said he was a great family man while he was always busy with his professional commitments. The delegates observed silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Conclave vice chairman and PRCI East Zone Chairman B K Sahu and organising committee chairman Ravi Mahapatra, who also heads Kolkata chapter of PRCI, welcomed the guests.

Ms Sashi Panja, West Bengal Women welfare and child development minister, who inaugurated the two-day conclave, focused on the communicators’ role in ensuring the safety of women and children.

In this context, she appreciated PRCI for complying with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act makes it mandatory for all organizations to have Internal Compliance Committees.

PRCI Chairman Emeritus and M B Jayaram referred to the Conclave theme – Digital Now-What Next – and stressed the need for all PR professionals to be abreast with the fast developing technology to be able to meet ever increasing communication challenges.

PRCI Governing Council chairman R T Kumar said the organization is spreading its pan-India network and at the time spreading wings globally. ORCI recently formed its UAE chapter and will soon set up units in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Germany and the US.

PRCI National Executive president B N Kumar disclosed that the Guest Faculty Pool set up by the Council is becoming popular among institutions teaching mass communication. PRCI will focus on skill development among upcoming communication professionals and periodic knowledge forums.

YCC Chairperson Geetha Shankar said the organization has launched a special drive to involve the student community and planned youth summits in Mumbai, Bangalore and Mysore.

Kolkata Calling - on You Tube

Here is the video slide show of select pix taken during the 10th Global Communication Conclave, taken from my ipad Mini.

Pl allow some time for the pix to download (by clicking on the play button). For better view, select Cinema Mode (the second icon from the right, on your screen) and for sharp quality pl select HD by clicking on options (the wheel icon).

Now enjoy viewing.....larger pic on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpJUuX0_nsQ

10...9...8...The Count down for Global Communication begins

PR Hall of Fame - 2016 - PRCI Invites Nominations

Please refer to this 2-pager

10th Global Communication Conclave - Register Yourself quickly

I am happy to inform all of you that the preparations for the 10^th Global Communication Conclave, being organsied by PRCI, at Kolkata on January 22 & 23, 2016 are going with rocket speed.

PRCI’s East Zone and Kolkata Chapters are all set to host the Conclave at Belvedere Park Club, Eastern Railway Officers Enclave.

The theme of the Conclave is: Digital Now – What Next

India is on the digital highway. Everyone – right from the Prime Minister to IT and ITES firms – is talking about digitization. Narendra Modi’s dream of 98 Smart Cities is only going to give impetus to digital India.

The recent US trip by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought increased focus on Digitisation and how it is going to be Power to Empower!

An added emphasis at the Conclave will on the role of the youth in making the Digital World meaningful to fulfill their aspirations and hopes and taking the nation on i-way to be a global super power.

The two-day deliberations will see communication, media, tech professionals, corporate honchos and government officials and ministers interacting and ideating on a host of aspects related to digital world, and not just digital India.

PRCI will also present its signature Chanakya Awards to recognize the outstanding contribution of people in Corporate Services and Communication. The organization will also induct professionals with exemplary performance into the coveted PR Hall of Fame and honour winners of Corporate Collateral Awards under a host of categories.

PRCI has fixed the reasonable delegate fees in the following manner:

• PRCI members: Rs 3,000 each (Rs 1,000 extra for accompanying spouse)
• Non-PRCI members: Rs 4,000 each  (Rs 1,500 extra for accompanying spouse)
• Communication Students: Rs 1,000 each.

Please download the Delegate registration form seen on this page and rush it to the Conclave Secretariat.

PrezSpeak: Growing Local, Going Global!

While making brisk preparations for the 10^th Global Communication Conclave, the PRCI leadership is fully gearing up to launch our first International Chapter in UAE.

The event will be held on December 03, 2015 and we expect about 20 PRCI delegates to join the celebrations in UAE. Vinay Kumar and U S Kutty have done an excellent job in making the groundwork for the event.

Next target cities are: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Sydney, London, Atlanta, New York and so on.

A peak view of the 10th Global Conclave venue at Kolkata

Meanwhile, all efforts are being made to strengthen the Chapters within the country. Friends from Navi Mumbai have requested for allowing them to start a new chapter there. We are assessing. In fact, Navi Mumbai has an excellent convention centre. Mumbai University has already expressed willingness to have a pre-global conclave event. Yes, there is some progress on this front.

Geetha and Pani, in association with the NE, are working on some unique plans to mobilize YCC for the Kolkata conclave. I am sure some concrete plans will be announced in post-Diwali week.

We appeal to all PRCI chapters to keep running professional activities and send in reports. I would like to underline here that PRCI is a purely voluntary effort and that we cannot coerce any one! Most of us are working professionals with our respective commitments. But let us make efforts to use week-ends for some professional service like many of us as Lions and Rotarians do!

Jyot Se Jyot Jagaatay Chalo …

Back to the 10^th Conclave: Team Kolkata, led by B K Sahu and Ravi Mahapatra, is working on the agenda and we should be able to finalise it by the end of the week. We will need help from all of you to mobilize speakers.

Please do not forget to help get funds through delegate fees and sponsors. Details of sponsorship opportunities will be ready shortly.

You will be happy to know PRapport popularity as indicated by the pageviews has crossed 13,220 with the US accounting for a whopping 7,286! India is steadily heading for 5,000 mark.

Before I sign off, here is the latest pageview stats:

Entry	Pageviews
United States	7286
India	4877
Germany	203
Portugal	75
United Kingdom	73
France	63
Hong Kong	57
Singapore	53
Sweden	37
Norway	35

Let’s keep the PRCI flag flying…

Digital Now- What Next! - Theme for 10th Global Conclave; PRapport @ 7,000 and growing strong

In consultation with GC and NE seniors, we have now closed in on the theme for the 10^th Global Communication Conclave that will be held in Kolkata in January 2016.

It's: Digital Now - What Next!

The theme is quite topical since the government is going whole hog with Digital India Campaign and 100 plus Smart Cities. It encompasses our lives at every stage and step.

We will now work on logo and adaptations for stationery and collaterals.

We should be able to work out everything within a week.

I appeal to all of you to immediately start working on the Conclave and come out with workable suggestions and available speakers and panelists.

Considering the fact that the theme covers a wide gamut of issues we can start looking at speakers from corporate, corpcom, social media, print, TV and regional media, education, governance, industry, services and what have you.

Do send in a brief about the suggested speakers to enable us to zero in and start sending invites.

Kolkata Chapter may please start working on venues. Please mail suggestions to Jayaram and us.

Meanwhile, happy to infirm you all that our e-mag has crossed the 7,000 page view mark with 3,500 coming from India and 3,000 from the US! Germany will shortly record 200. In fact, on some days, the US gives us much larger hits than India! At this rate, we should be able to touch Mr S K Kaul’s target of 10,000 in no time.

Data apart, I am happy that the content is increasing and improving by the day. We need to build on further.

I request all of you to keep writing and enrich the e-mag. Do send suggestions on topics for discussion and healthy debates.

I know, most of us are pretty active on What’sApp. But remember the fact that the posts can be deleted as they eat into the memory of handsets. But this e-mag is forever with no memory issues!

Looking forward to increased participation from all chapters and zones since PRCI is a voluntary movement for all of us!

Bye and do take care of yourselves.