Mr.Srinivasan has brought out a very interesting information, the development of negative news because of the inept corpcom dept of concerned Govt. depts. They have miserably failed to capitalize on the excellent efforts taken by none other than our past president of india and one of the words most respected scientist and a highly respected individual, Dr.Kalam.
I think PR stalwards should urge Govt to provide some PR education to these sensitive departments officials as Relationship and positive brand building are a must.
In case of Koothangulam as rightly mentioned by Mr.Srinivasan, the protest continuing for such a long time funded by (??) vested interests or human interests is successful in creating a negative PR which is spiralling into each and every citizens tax money being wasted.
Will some one listens and come forward to create positive PR efforts??
With best wishes and warm regards
S.Krishnamurthy
www.alphabeticstraining.in
Ph. 91-44-42122363
Mobile. 9884278542
S.Krishnamurthy
www.alphabeticstraining.in
Ph. 91-44-42122363
Mobile. 9884278542
From: Prime Point Srinivasan <prpoint@gmail.com>
To: Prpoint Group <prpoint@yahoogroups.com>; gfpr@googlegroups.com
Cc: NCPL Nagaich <nnagaich@npcil.co.in>; daniel_chellappa2002@yahoo.com; Atomic Energy Chairman Dr R Chidambaram Atomic Energy Chairman <chmn@dae.gov.in>
Sent: Friday, 11 November 2011 11:27 PM
Subject: [prpoint] Koodankulam crisis - PR and Communication disaster
dear all
Earlier discussions
Members may recall that we duscssed about the lack of PR initiative by Atomic Energy Department way back on 7th October 2011 itself. Please read our first mail which generated a good discussion in the group.
Background details about the protest
The villagers near Koodankulam started their protest from 11th Sep 2011 against the Nuclear Reactor, which is likely to generate 2000 MW power in a few weeks. Even as early as 7th October, we discussed about the silence and lack of PR initiative by the Atomic Energy Authorities to deal with the crisis at the early stage.
Even as we write this mail, as on 11th November, there is no change in the attitude of the Atomic Energy Department and Nuclear Power Corporation. Because of their improper handling of the crisis situation, the crisis has deepened further and has spread to other states. Since, there is no positive news provided by the Nuclear Power Corporation to generate confidence among the people, negative feelings are spreading through various print and television media.
Suspicion of external forces
Though Police has not given permission to organise protests, the people gather in a Church premises in the nearby Idinthakarai village and organise protest meetings daily with hunger strike for the past two months. The Bishop and the local Fathers of the Church are openly behind this protest. The media reporters who have gone from Chennai to the site, say that lot of money is being spent on this protest. A major section of the Christians of that locality and other community leaders are objecting to the involvement of Bishop and Church Fathers in this protest.
Though there may be genuine doubts about the nuclear power among the villagers, there is also a suspicion about the involvement of 'geo-political and market forces' in this continuous protest. One of the senior political leaders who was talking to me was expressing surprise that when major political parties are unable to sustain such protest for more than two or three days, how the protesters are able to sustain continuously for two months spending huge amount of money.
Even the self-styled scientists are also giving media bytes against the nuclear power station. This is also causing lot of anti nuclear sentiment among the illiterate people.
Protesters demanding nationally sensitive details
The Central Government has appointed a 15 members expert committee to remove the doubts of the villagers. On behalf of the 'protesting villagers', a set of 50 questions has been handed over to the Central Committee. These questions include various information about the design of the nuclear power plant, the army movement and various other nationally sensitive details. This has also raised doubts about the genuineness of such questions. It is also doubted whether any 'anti-national' elements have entered in the guise of 'anti nuclear protest'.
Pathetic handling by Corpcom Department of NPCL
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Kalam has also visited the site and with his vast experience of having lead the nation under Pokran II, has submitted a detailed 39 page report to the Government. He has also assured the people about the safety of the nuclear power station in detail. He also suggested a 10 point action plan to the Government of India to improve the villages and their economic position. Next day, all the media carried prominently this news item, because of Dr Kalam.
Nuclear Power Corporation at their Head Office is having a Corpcom Department headed by a top-management official at the rank of Executive Director. All the units are also having PR department. In spite of all their structure, no initiative has been taken by the Atomic Energy Department and Nuclear Power Corporation till date. Every media finds its difficult to get a quote from competent people to counter the fears of the villagers. In all the local channels 80 percent of the Kudankulam story focusses only on the negative story, due to lack of positive side story.
Very sadly, even the report by Dr Kalam has not been encashed by them to their advantage. I spoke to the local Member of Parliament Mr Ramasubbu. He is also the Standing Committee Member of Science and Technology in the Government of India. Very sadly, Nuclear Power Corporation and the Atomic Energy Department have not even contacted him and consulted him after the crisis broke. He is also residing very closely to the Power Station and it comes under his constituency. Another pathetic situation is that their PR Department does not have the mobile number of their constituency MP also. This is the way, their PR department functions even during the crisis time. I sharers the mobile number of the local MP to them yesterday.
The officials and Corpcom department function more bureaucratically. They are not available for media quotes. Even whatever little they speak, there is no coordination among them.
Though this crisis could have been resolved at the initial stage very easily, it is because of their lack of PR and communication skills, they have allowed this to grow to this level. At this stage, they need to apply lot of efforts to bring back to normalcy. The nation has invested around 15,000 crores in this mega project and 15 years of effort. Because of the delay in starting the generation of electricity, the nation is losing every day crores of rupees.
Every correspondent, whom I check up complain about the improper handling of PR by Nuclear Power Corporation and Atomic Energy. Some of the media persons, in their own national interest, go out of the way to get quotes from the competent persons and publish them. Very sadly, their Corpcom Department does not have even the media clips of the entire crisis with them.
Lack of accountability, even if the nation is losing money
As we discussed in our earlier discussions, Public Sector organisations are extremely good, when everything goes fine. When any crisis comes, they become highly bureaucratic and do not have any competency to handle the crisis. They mess up further to cause huge loss for the nation. Though the nation is losing the money because of their communication incompetency, they are least worried. Their ego does not permit them to consult any proper professionally competent persons to handle the crisis.
Srinivasan
Prime Point
9176650273
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