Daijiworld Media Network - Manipal (AP)
Pics: Biju Nellissery
Manipal, Sep 9: Manipal Chapter of Public Relations Council of India was inaugurated in Manipal University on September 8th. Manipal Institute of Communication, a constituent college of Manipal University, was the host institution. Manipal University gets the credit of being the first university in the country to inaugurate PRCI.
PRCI is the only registered body for PR professionals, and was started on April 3rd, 2004. Started in Bangalore, it has 14 chapters all over the country.withing a span of three years, it has expanded to Delhi, Kolkata, Orissa, Jaipur, Mumbai, Mysore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Chennai, Shimoga, Bhopal, Cochin, and now Manipal. Besides, it also plans to establish itself in other places as well such as Raipur, Chattisgarh, Uttaraanchal, Ludhiyana, baroda, Ahmedabad, Kandla Port, Indore, Rajasthan, Lucknow, Belgaum, Hubli, Davangere, Coimbatore and Pondicherry.
The PRCI is the foremost platform for Public Relations professionals for global exchange of ideas in corporate communications, image management, advertising and PR. It is non political in nature, and offers professionals an opportunity to serve their community by encouraging high ethical standards in their career.
Dr. Kushal Kumar, Professor, Manipal Institute of Communication has been appointed as the Chairman of Manipal Chapter of PRCI, with Mr. Ranga Pai, Deputy Registrar – HR of Manipal University as the Vice Chairman. Assisting them with the activities of PRCI are Mr. Varadesh Hiregange (Assistant Professor, MIC) as the Secretary, Dr. Neeta Inamdar (Assistant Professor, MIC) as Joint Secretary, and Ms. Kavita Nagasampige (Lecturer, MIC) as the Treasurer. The Executive Committee members consist of Prof. Buroshiva Dasgupta (Director – MIC), Dr. H. Vinod Bhat (Registrar – Manipal University), Dr. Raghuvir Pai (Director – ICAS), Dr. KVM Varambally (Director – MIM), Dr. R P Pai (Director – Alumni Center and Professor of Community Medicine), Dr. Pushpa Kini (Director – Students Affairs, Manipal University), Dr. Ratna Prakash (Dean, College of Nursing), Dr. B Rajashekhar (Director, Allied Health Sciences).
The programme flagged off at 5.30 pm at Chaitya Hall at Valley View with invocation by Sumangala, a MIC student. The welcome address was given by Shri Krishna B Mariyanka, Chairman - PRCI, Bangalore Chapter. The Director of PRCI, Shri R T Kumar briefed the audience about the PRCI, that was followed by lighting of lamp by the Chief Guest – Dr. H S Ballal. M B Jayaram administered the oath to Kushal Kumar, who in his acceptance speech promised to live upto the objectives of the PRCI.
The Chief Guest Dr. H S Ballal, in his address highlighted the importance of communication in all the sectors of work these days. He congratulated Professor Kushal Kumar for pioneering the project in Manipal University.
In a keynote address by the Guest of Honour, Dr. M V Kamath (Chairman Prasar Bharti and Honorary Director – Manipal Institute of Communication) beautifully brought out examples of the past, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln had subtly but impressively and successfully functioned as PR.
The vote of thanks was given by Prof. Buroshiva Dasgupta, that was followed by presentations by Corporate Communication specialisation students of Manipal Institute of Communication. During the course of their presentation, as groups they presented the existing marketing strategies of skin care product Olay, along with suggested strategy to enhance the marketing of the product. The function ended with a cultural event put up by the students of Manipal Institute of Communication.