Buddha prods PR pros

KOLKATA: Buddhadeb''s Bengal is happening. IT and agribusiness have never been hotter. Yet the state is dogged by negative perception.
The go-getter chief minister on Sunday said it was high time the world got an unbiased picture of Bengal. "Our state needs to be projected more positively, help us position Bengal better," Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on the concluding day of the 26th All India Public Relations conference.
PR professionals in the state had an important role to play in removing the misgivings of prospective investors, he said. The chief minister reminded PR pros of their "social responsibility" and said, "Major players in the IT arena have given their thumbs up to Bengal as an IT destination. These achievements need to be highlighted."
The delegates suggested starting specialised PR courses at the postgraduate and PHD level, for which a centre of excellence, on the lines of the Indian Institute of mass communication, would be needed.
Bhattacharjee also urged them to set up a state-of-the art institute to train budding professionals. "The state government will provide all possible assistance in any such an endeavour," he assured.
Responding to the chief minister''s offer, leading public relations professional Samir Goswamy commented: "We will be happy to take up the offer of setting up such a centre in the state. PR professionals are aware that they need to reach out to common people in the rural areas."