Coimbatore, Sep. 17 – The Community Connect Conclave 2025 was held today at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, organized by VIRUTCHAM in collaboration with the UGC-sponsored Centre for Women’s Studies. The conclave, themed “Empowering Youth for Resilient Communities and Sustainable Future,” underlined the role of youth in addressing environmental challenges, social disparities, and technological changes.
Principal Dr. P.B. Harathi welcomed the gathering, reiterating the event’s theme of sustainability and youth responsibility. Dr. N. Yesodha Devi, Secretary, invoked Swami Vivekananda, Subramania Bharati, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, stressing that youth are vital for nation-building. She highlighted VIRUTCHAM’s impact, with 8,000 volunteers from 13 clubs and departments conducting 200 outreach programmes each year, benefitting more than 80,000 community members.
Chief Guest Smt. Vanitha Mohan, Chairman of Pricol Ltd. and Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, emphasized that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity. She warned that Coimbatore’s industrial growth should not come at the cost of environmental neglect and urged youth to be catalysts for change.
Special Guest of Honour Dr. T. Balaji Naidu, Managing Trustee of Coimbatore Cancer Foundation, highlighted the need for youth involvement in healthcare and palliative support, citing social shifts away from traditional community structures.
Keynote Speaker Balakumar Thangavelu, Director of CSR at Cognizant, spoke on community giving, categorizing it into tourists, travellers, and guides.
Special Guest Speaker Vidhya Bhojan, Founder of Right Dots, Chennai, urged capacity-building for youth leadership within the “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.
