Tobacco Free Bihar Campaign Takes Top Honours in South Asia SABRE Awards

PATNA, India, September 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Advantage Services Won Three Awards - One Platinum and Two Gold Awards 

- It was declared the 'Best in Show Platinum Award' winner for its Tobacco Free Bihar campaign

- It also grabbed two Gold awards, including the one under the Public Affairs Category for its Tobacco Free Bihar drive and another under the Public Education Category for its media campaign for Kalaazar, TBGI and family planning

- With these awards, Advantage Services has entered the competition for the Asia-Pacific SABRE Awards to be held in Hong Kong on September 23 this year, where it will compete with four other contenders under the Not-for-Profit category.

Advantage Services, a leading PR agency based in Patna, bagged three awards - one platinum and two gold awards - for its public education campaign, at the South Asia SABRE Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on September 16.

Of 2600 entries from across South Asia, Advantage Services took a huge leap forward when it was selected to compete with six other finalists. At a function attended by at least 200 of India's leading PR professionals, Advantage Services took everyone by surprise when it won the Platinum SABRE Award for its Tobacco Free Bihar campaign. It also grabbed two Gold awards, including the one under the Public Affairs Category for its Tobacco Free Bihar drive and another under the Public Education Category for its media campaign for Kalaazar, TBGI and family planning.

The Tobacco Free Bihar drive, conducted by Advantage Services on behalf of the Cancer Awareness Society/CTFK, drove real behavioural change in Bihar. It yielded positive results by inspiring people to respond emotionally, participate in debates and offer feedback. The then chief minister of Bihar addressed a massive rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan where at least 20,000 children and youths vowed never to consume tobacco. The CM imposed 60% tax on the sale of tobacco products in Bihar. A state-wide ban on gutkha (chewing tobacco) sale was also imposed. Besides, English and Hindi dailies carried over 300 stories on the Tobacco Free Bihar campaign.

The anti-Kalaazar campaign of the Government of Bihar wherein Care India provided with Technical Support Unit and the media advocacy was done by Advantage Services taught Anganwadi workers, child development project officers and lady supervisors to raise awareness about the disease and its treatment among people. DDT was sprinkled in several areas of the district to prevent breeding of sandflies.

Other finalists that gave a tough competition to Advantage Services, include the State Bank of India with Adfactors PR, Dettol with Integral PR Services, Growth Enabler with Integral PR Services, Ducere Technologies with Adfactors PR and Ashoka University with Genesis Burson-Marsteller.

Holmes Group CEO Paul Holmes, who presented the Platinum SABRE Award, said, "All the campaigns delivered outstanding business results in their respective areas. However, the Tobacco Free Bihar campaign stood out for motivating impressive behavioural change around a challenging issue in a difficult market."

According to Advantage Services CEO Khurshid Ahmad, the anti-tobacco drive seemed a little difficult in the beginning. But his team put its heart and soul into the campaign. "I have 28 years of experience in the media industry but this is the biggest honour of my life. It is a great achievement as we are ready to represent India internationally in the next level of the SABRE Awards to be held in Hong Kong," he said.

With these awards, Advantage Services has entered the competition for the Asia-Pacific SABRE Awards to be held in Hong Kong on September 23 this year, where it will compete with four other contenders under the Not-for-Profit category. The global awards will be presented at the Global PR Summit at Miami in the USA in October.

Advantage Services CEO Khurshid Ahmad, assistant manager Snehil Swapnil, senior PR executive Pragya Shanker, Senior PR consultant Anup Sharma, among others were present at the function.

About SABRE Awards: The world's biggest PR awards programme that recognizes the best PR work all over the world.

About PRCAI: The Public Relations Consultants Association of India aims to further the cause of the PR industry in the country and support budding communications professionals. It is the Indian PR industry's flagship trade association and a forum for government and public bodies, industry and trade associations to confer with public relations consultants through one body.

About Advantage Services  

Advantage Services has been operational in Bihar and Jharkhand for over 23 years and has established its credentials as the first among equals in the field of communication and PR. For more information, visit: http://www.advantagegroup.co.in/

Media Contact:
Snehil Swapnil
[email protected]
+91-9934316533
Assistant Manager
Advantage Services