Hundreds of young girls from underserved communities came together in Tiruchirappalli on Saturday to explore higher education and career opportunities at Udyog Utsav 2026, a career visioning conference organised by Avtar Human Capital Trust (AHCT) in partnership with Srimad Andavan College of Arts & Science.
The annual event, held on the college campus, brought together Project Puthri scholars, educators, industry professionals and government representatives to help students make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures.
Project Puthri, a flagship initiative of AHCT, focuses on empowering adolescent girls from underserved communities by providing career guidance, mentorship and educational support. Through Udyog Utsav, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by exposing students to real-world career opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director of Avtar Career Creators Limited and Managing Trustee of Avtar Human Capital Trust, said that career readiness is built through continuous learning, exposure and informed decision-making.
She said that many girls from disadvantaged backgrounds often miss such opportunities, making initiatives like Project Puthri essential. According to her, interactions with educators, professionals and industry leaders help students gain confidence, discover new career possibilities and make better choices about their future. She also highlighted that empowering young women ultimately strengthens families, communities and the nation.
The event’s Chief Guest, Rahul Raghavan, IAS, Assistant Collector of Tiruchirappalli, encouraged students to pursue higher education with confidence and determination. He said every young girl deserves the opportunity to dream without limitations and urged Project Puthri scholars to remain curious, embrace learning opportunities and contribute positively to society through informed career choices.
The conference was also attended by Ganesan Alagarsamy, General Manager – Operations at Sri Energy, and Dhaarini Srinivasan, Associate Director – Global Sustainability & CSR Lead at V-Dart, who joined as Guests of Honour.
Welcoming the participants, Dr M. Pitchaimani, Principal of Srimad Andavan College of Arts & Science, spoke about the importance of higher education in developing confident, capable and socially responsible young women.
Apart from keynote sessions, Udyog Utsav 2026 featured a range of activities designed to inspire and engage participants. These included the Project Puthri Pledge, scholarship distribution, talent search certificate presentations, scholar feedback sessions and cultural performances by students of the host institution.
Participants also attended a self-defence workshop conducted by the Tiruchirappalli District Taekwondo Training Association. In addition, corporate and institutional exhibition stalls allowed students to interact directly with representatives from educational institutions and industry, helping them better understand career pathways and future opportunities.
The organisers said the conference concluded on an inspiring note, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, industry and social organisations in creating opportunities for young girls from underserved communities.
Founded in 2000 by Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Avtar Career Creators Limited is one of India’s leading workplace culture consulting firms. Through its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, research programmes and Project Puthri, the organisation has supported thousands of women and girls in building careers, accessing higher education and creating better opportunities for the future.
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