Patrika completes five years in Madhya Pradesh

The newspaper plans to add two more editions, taking its total to 11 editions in the state.

Five years ago, Rajasthan Patrika made its entry in Madhya Pradesh with the name Patrika. The Hindi newspaper is celebrating its fifth foundation day in Bhopal with a slew of activities.

Patrika entered MP in 2008, with its first edition in Bhopal. Today it has nine editions in the state including Bhopal, Joshangabad, Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Khandwa, Jabalpur, Satna and Gwalior. The group plans to launch two more editions in MP. Patrika entered Chhattisgarh in 2010 and currently has three editions there. It also plans to start an edition in Jagdalpur.

The anniversary celebration activities kick-started on May 25, the day the foundation stone of Patrika was laid in MP. Patrika rolled out the celebration in Bhopal with Sarva Dharm Sabha, inviting gurus from various religions including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. The religious gathering is a part of the newspaper's annual affair, conducted once every year on its foundation day. This was followed by a blood donation camp that marked the first of a series of similar camps in various parts of the city. The office building wore a new look with lights and décor.

On June 1-5, an activity van will traverse the streets of Bhopal, spreading the message of saving the environment. Various activities are being organised around the van. Also, a painting competition is being organised on World Environment Day (June 4) for individuals in the age group of 7 to 20 years. About 1,000 participants are expected to take part in it.

Taking its Save the Environment theme forward, on June 5, a seminar will be organised, where speakers from the field of environment will deliver lectures.

The initiative will also invite public participation, encouraging people to share details of their contribution towards environmental causes in categories such as industries, residential and organisation. The entries will be exhibited in the closing ceremony and the three best entries in each category will win prizes.

At the agent level, accidental insurance coverage is being distributed to the newspaper hawkers by Patrika.

The celebration is also supported by readers' engagement initiatives through stories, poems, painting, cartoons and shayari, with gifts for all participants.

In an official communiqué, Arvind Kalia, vice-president, marketing, Patrika Group, says, "Patrika's presence in MP was both timely and relevant. In just three years, Patrika became the No. 1 Hindi newspaper in MP as certified by ABC, (July-December, 2012). Today, Patrika is the only newspaper coming from a single corporate house providing single solution for MP, covering both East and West MP."

For the record, the Patrika Group publishes the Hindi daily, Rajasthan Patrika and is a 55-year-old company that started as an evening newspaper. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, it is also present in Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.