The Silent Saturday Movement, a large-scale institutional climate awareness initiative, was officially launched recently at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (PSGR KCW). The event was organised by the college’s Virutcham Eco Watch Club in association with the Theanchittu Institute of Climate Literacy and Outreach.
A total of 1,40,646 students from 31 colleges across Coimbatore, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, and Thoothukudi participated in the movement. Dressed in red to symbolise “Code Red for Humanity,” the students highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis.
Students at the launch venue and across participating institutions made a collective appeal to the public to protect clean air and water resources and to help limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Gomathi, Coordinator of Virutcham Eco Watch Club, delivered the welcome address. Tushar Singh, Assistant Collector of Coimbatore, formally launched the Silent Saturday Movement and unveiled its logo.
Harathi, Principal of the college, released the movement’s resolution during a live Zoom session that connected nearly two lakh students from the participating institutions.
Sangeetha, Director of the Theanchittu Institute of Climate Literacy and Outreach, announced the designation of Vadakarapathy village in Palakkad district of Kerala as a Carbon Neutral Panchayat and introduced the village and its collaborating institutions to the students.
Pradeep Kumar, Founder of the Theanchittu Institute of Climate Literacy and Outreach, addressed the gathering on the vision and objectives of the Silent Saturday Movement.
The chief guest, Rakesh Menon, Consultant, Trainer, Actor, Founder and CEO of Mantis Training and Consulting, and Regional Partner of Network In Action, delivered the keynote address. Sasikala, Coordinator of the college’s Eco Watch Club, proposed the vote of thanks.
In parallel with the college launch, Vadakarapathy Grama Panchayat passed a formal resolution to become a Carbon Neutral Panchayat. The village-level event was organised by Varatharaj, Co-founder of the Theanchittu Institute of Climate Literacy and Outreach.
Silent Saturday is not a pledge for individual behavioural change but a collective appeal by students to the wider public. The movement aims to encourage society to protect air, water, and the climate for future generations, while focusing on institutional outreach, direct public engagement, and traditional media rather than social media promotion.
