Suvadin, Home
I had gone for an interview, but came back with experience on news reporting and found out it's not an easy job. And as I finish this article, I smile and still say, yes, there is an author in everyone.
Nagar Mitra.

Sanat Neupane | SUVADIN

Ranjit Acharya, Prisma Advertising always gives me surprises. 5 years back one fine day, he called me and asked if I could anchor a talk show, and the second day debuted me live in KIST Talk through Avenues TV. In THT’s brand summit 3 years back, he called me and sent in a panel and I learned the topic after I sat on the chair. And yesterday, he called me for something else and at my request, sent me for coverage of Mr. Ishteyaque Amjad, Vice President – Public Affairs & Communications Coca-Cola India & South West Asia. He always sends me happiness in fast track.

In the past, I have hosted few TV talk shows but never got a chance of news reporting, and yesterday was my first time

In the past, I have hosted few TV talk shows in the past but never got a chance of news reporting, and yesterday was my first time. Well-coordinated by Shreya and Nitin from Prisma, me and Ravi Joshi, our business development officer who I had assigned as a cameraman for the program, reached Nagar Mitra Pet Bottle Recollection Center at Pipalbot. We also met other media colleagues there and I felt an interesting climate of journalism.

The place looked like a big workshop of pet bottles. A lot of activities happening there and people happily busy. In that recycling environment, there was a very nice office innovatively made. A block immediately at the entrance of the office area was made with recollected pet bottles, which formed a unique pattern. I wondered why star hotels did not adopt that at their lobby, would give an intersting look. It is a worth seeing design, and I encourage interior designers to pay a visit.

On the way I had noticed a reasonably loud visual board titled “About the Founder” and I questioned myself if that was needed at that place. But maybe it was needed; otherwise, why would a smart person like Prashant Singh place it there?

And there came Prashant Singh introducing himself. I had met him a couple of times at Chaudhary Group and WWF but he keeps meeting thousands of people like me, so nothing bad that he did not recall. Amjad introduced himself proactively and with a burst of energy and positivity reflecting a warm welcome. Accompanying him was a smart lady, again a coke official. Another humble lady from Coca-Cola Nepal public affairs and communications Sneha asked me if I was from SUVADIN? I proudly replied “yes” with a smile.

Most impressive was a byte in the A/V they presented where a pet bottle collector was mentioning that previously they used to be dominated but now with the uniform outer with Nagar Mitra logo which they have been provided, people respect them and some even request and invite them again for the collection.

We then went to the meeting room and Prashant presented on Nagar Mitra initiatives. The team was doing a great work. I was very happy to learn that the workers there are earning average NRs.13000/month. Most impressive was a byte in the A/V they presented where a pet bottle collector was mentioning that previously they used to be dominated and disrespected by people for the recollector job but now with the uniform outer with Nagar Mitra logo printed on it, which they wear while at work, people respect them now and some even request and invite them for repeat collection. This was the moment I got emotional and thanked the addition Nagar Mitra has done to the work pride of these recycle workers, who in fact are the active ambassadors of the green.

Sneha, the cheerful lady was busy, looked like she had too many things still on the schedule. But a perfect PR professional, she attended us well and made sure we felt connected to the initiative and the program. I wanted to conduct a small talk program featuring Amjad highlighting on few aspects of MNCs, sustainability, and localization. But since the time did not permit, despite a genuine try from Sneha, we parked it for the moment. Still, I did not come empty handed.

As a corporate professional in the past, I am well aware how difficult international corporate visits are both to the visitor and to the host. Tight schedules, too many meetings, too many reports, too many presentations, impromptu engagements, and all  these capsuled in a few days. Still, you get inducted with the perspective and updated on the performance. Amjad and his team looked happy. I realised I was observing the meeting from a corporate viewpoint and more as a CEO than as a core journalist. I was happy, on my reading, Amjad seemed going back with a good impression about Nepal operations and its social initiatives.

“Each country has to come up with own solutions for sustainability of programs and ideas”

Amjad was clear when he said “Each country has to come up with own solutions for sustainability of programs and ideas” attending question of our OnlineKhabar friend Abhaya Joshi in the context of India banning the import of used pet bottles and Nepal facing difficulty in finding a big buyer locally.

In this small interaction, I found Amjad a confident, receptive, and moreover a ‘kind’ corporate professional. In nostalgia of my previous business engagements with corporate institutions, I appreciated the whole mechanism of a ‘program review program’. At the end, he gave us his business card written “Globally, Coca-Cola offers more than 3,300 ways to refresh, relax and enjoy” at the back of it.

While leaving, I asked Prashant how was Naya Shakti doing. Things he told me were so interesting that I felt I need to write another story on it. We then left for suvadin office. 

I had gone for an interview, but came back with experience on news reporting and found out it's not an easy job. And as I finish this article, I smile and still say, yes, there is an author in everyone. 


 

More form the Internet

loading...