Network18 & RB initiate a global conversation on water-crisis,Mission Paani

Taking a lead on sustainable development, Network18, India’s most diversified media conglomerate along with Reckitt Benckiser, world’s leading Hygiene Home products company with its premium brand Harpic introduce their noteworthy water conservation campaign - #MissionPaani to the 50^th World Economic Forum at Davos. Each year, the annual meeting witnesses a convergence of world-leaders across the political, business and academic spectrum. In a bid to drive global conversations on the on-going water-crisis and initiate a world-wide, solution-based people’s movement, campaign will urge eminent personalities’, and notable luminaries at the forum to spearhead the water conservation movement, globally. Network18 will showcase the impactful results of the country-wide campaign through a specially curated wall exhibit and power-packed panel discussions hosted by Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC TV18.

A collaborative effort by Network 18 and Reckitt Benckiser, ‘Mission Paani’ has been touted as a mega crusade against the depletion of water resources aimed at ensuring clean and proportionate water for drinking and other essential purposes. By presenting the campaign on a global stage, the network seeks to extend their support and dedication towards the forum’s agenda of addressing environmental challenges.

Partaking a string of panel discussions with top world leaders, the network aims to initiate a conversation around water as the global agenda. Panel discussion titled, ‘Water the Global Agenda’ was centred around the global water crisis and discuss the prevalent gaps in water and sanitation accessibility. It featured Deepak Bagla, MD and CEO, Invest India, Miguel Veiga Pestana, SVP Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, RB Hygiene Home, Eleanor Allen, CEO, Water for People, Robert Skinner, UN Executive Director of Global Partnerships, and was hosted by Shereen Bhan.

The #MissionPaani wall-exhibit will be showcased at SDG17 lounge in Davos under Goal 6 which focuses on clean water and sanitation. Highlighting the innovative design strategies adopted through the campaign by people, the exhibition will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Narasimhan Eswar, Senior VP & MD, Hygiene - South Asia, Reckitt Benckiser, Miguel Veiga Pestana, SVP Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, RB Hygiene Home, Prabhat Pani - Director of Partnerships, Tata Trusts, Meena Narula -- India CEO, Water for People and Jakob Trollback -- CEO of The New Division, designer of the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework. Slated to be televised on Network18’s channel, the discussion will bring to fore transformational solutions in tackling the frightful global water-crisis.  

Commenting on the same, Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC TV18, said, “The World Economic Forum marks its 50th year by putting the spotlight on Climate Change and Sustainability. This reinforces the message to political & Business leaders that time is running out and the need for constructive action is urgent. Network18 has put its might behind a campaign to conserve and promote more efficient use of water. We are taking Mission Paani to Davos to have a global conversation on the water crisis the world faces. We hope this platform can be used to learn and share ideas.”

Expressing his views on the initiative, Mr. Narasimhan Eswar, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, RB Hygiene Home, South Asia said, “To see so many global leaders coming together and working towards making a sustainable future gives me hope that there is a lot each one of us can do to make the world a better place. To address the India water issue with Mission Paani at Davos, I am confident that we will be able to garner substantial support towards a common goal that will help us make a difference.”

Sukhleen Aneja, CMO & Marketing Director, RB Hygiene Home, South Asia said, “Our goal to take this campaign global has been to build an ecosystem that will help us in addressing the issue and massifying the movement. Taking Mission Paani to Davos and engaging with world leaders to advocate the need to respect and conserve water will definitely allow us to make the right impact.”

Adding on, Priyanka Kaul, President, Marketing & CEO, Forbes India at Network18 Group said, “Through our Mission Paani campaign, it has been our constant endeavour to bring fore the calamitous repercussions of the ongoing water crisis. After a nation-wide awareness and solution-driven campaign, we seek to start a global dialogue in the presence of world-leaders from all corners of the world. We are certain that we will be successful in reaching out to large number of people and spread awareness on the importance of water conservation.” 

Underlining the urgency of climate-change the World Economic Forum for 2020 will lay impetus on addressing the environmental challenges through dialogues on sustainable development goals, along with tech and trade governance. The four-day event will see top leaders across the globe partake in a collective initiative to foster growth agendas amongst global, regional and industry institutions.