https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When School Children of Virudhunagar Had Coffee with Collector

The Collector of Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, as started an initiative called Coffee with Collector, wherein he interacts with school children once a week. During these sessions, he adresses doubts and curiosities of the children and also answers their questions. As the name suggests, the interactions take place over a cup of coffee, and are casual conversations of the children with the collector alone.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Most of us, if not all, are quite familiar with the popular television programme, Koffee with Karan. In this programme, host Karan Johar, Bollywood’s famous producer who was awarded the Padma Shri last year, speaks to famous guests over a cup of coffee.

In a similar move, Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar District Collector Meghanath Reddy J has started Coffee with Collector, and it has become the talk of the town, gaining overwhelming popularity in just a few days of its start, surpassing the popularity Karan Johar’s show received in the initial days of its run. 

Children are the happiest as it’s their special time. They are getting a chance to meet the District Collector and share some warm personal time with him over a warm cup of coffee. The Collector on his part is more than happy to address the curiosity of the young minds and answer their questions. 

Indian Masterminds was also curious to know more about this initiative and spoke with Collector Meghanath Reddy J to get more information about his once-a-week coffee date with school children.

COFFEE WITH COLLECTOR

Coffee with Collector is the brainchild of 2013-batch IAS officer Meghanath Reddy J, who is currently posted in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district as Collector. He interacts with children of his district once a week over a cup of coffee. Recently, he met 21 girls and boys from the Tiruchuli block. After the interaction, he even gifted them books. He tweeted soon after that what impressed him was their varied ambitions.

He told Indian Masterminds, “I got the idea when I was reviewing the education department in the last week of December. As a collector, I have to review a lot of departments. So, I thought that I should find a method to interact with students, because here in Tamil Nadu, government conducts lots of activity for students every week. I thought of doing something on similar lines as we have 11 educational blocks in our district.”

The district administration chooses 20 children from each block every week, of which 10 are girls and 10 boys. And the Collector has interactive sessions with them for two hours. As of now, all the children are from government schools, which include high schools and secondary schools. In the next phase, children from private schools will be included, too.

“Once a week, from 10 am to 12 pm, I sit with them alone and listen to them to know their perspective on different things. I also address their doubts and answer their questions. I really like these interactions and have also received very good feedback from all,” Mr. Reddy said.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection procedure of the children is handled by the education department. Children are selected from different fields – studies, sports, and other disciplines. “I started on New Year’s, and in two weeks, I have met around 50 kids. Next, my plan is to start interaction with the children of private schools,” the officer said.

INSIGHTS GAINED

Mr. Reddy said that he gained a lot of insights into how the little impressionable minds work. “They have clarity on life, about what they want to do and what they should not do. Everyone has a big goal in life.”

He cited an example of a student who wants to become a businessman. On being asked why, he replied that as a businessman he can give employment to a lot of people. “So that was really fascinating. They even asked me that as a collector what plans do I have for the district, what should I change in the district, etc.”

In conclusion, the officer revealed what’s the most interesting question that’s been fielded to him so far. It was a question put to him by a young student,on managing failure. “I was asked how I deal with success and manage failure. I observed that they understand that failure is not the end of life. You have to stand up and fight again.”

https://twitter.com/jmeghanathreddy/status/1481595192046424064?s=20

Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Panna police
Panna Police Under Siege: SHO and Constable Injured as Villagers Launch Brutal Attack
Panna police
Khaki Power on the Podium: MP Police Shine at All India Police Games 2025 with Gold, Yoga & Judo Glory
India Russia R-37M missile talks
India Russia R-37M Missile Talks Advances to Arm Su-30MKI fighters
IAF MRFA project
114 Fighters, One Mission — MoD Pushes for 100% Indian Involvement in IAF MRFA Project
Ias sam rizvi
Hyderabad: Principal Secretary IAS SAM Rizvi Opts for Voluntary Retirement Amid Dispute with Telangana Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao
MP-Police-
Madhya Pradesh IPS Transfers: 7 Senior Officers Shifted in Midnight Reshuffle; Rajababu Singh, Irshad Wali Among Key Names
Powergrid
POWERGRID Strengthens National Grid Connectivity with Acquisition of 2 Key TBCB Projects Worth ₹3,375 Crore
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Panna police
Panna Police Under Siege: SHO and Constable Injured as Villagers Launch Brutal Attack
Panna police
Khaki Power on the Podium: MP Police Shine at All India Police Games 2025 with Gold, Yoga & Judo Glory
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT