KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 14: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Northeast is demonstrating strong readiness in skills, training, and innovation, positioning the region for significant growth in new-age industries.
She was speaking at the inauguration of the Students Advancing Mindsets in AI, Robotics, Technology and Digital Hardware (SAMARTH) initiative at the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) in Kohima. The Union Minister toured an exhibition of innovations by startups and students, and visited the India AI Lab and the R&D Cyber Forensics Lab, where she interacted with students and faculty.
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Sitharaman noted that the Northeast is witnessing simultaneous advancement in coal, cement, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and semiconductor sectors, adding that such developments indicate strong industrial potential for the region.
As part of the programme, the Union Minister launched the SAMARTH Portal and held an interaction with students. Highlighting the importance of financial awareness among women, especially in the Northeast, she said that although Indian women have traditionally managed household finances, today’s evolving economy demands greater understanding of modern financial tools. She urged women to explore small savings schemes, the stock market, and collateral-free government loan facilities. She also drew attention to the PM Vatsalya scheme, which allows families to save for children from birth, later converting into provident fund and pension benefits.
Emphasizing early exposure to emerging technologies, Sitharaman said familiarizing students with Artificial Intelligence is crucial for future skill development. She praised the Tata Group’s upcoming ATMP semiconductor facility in Assam and said she had requested the company to explore similar opportunities for Nagaland.
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Addressing youth participation in national development, the Union Minister urged students to stay united, focused, and away from negative influences such as drugs and bullying. She reminded them that today’s youth will lay the foundation for India’s vision for 2047.
Responding to a query on digital learning in rural areas, Sitharaman highlighted the rapid progress of the BharatNet programme, which is expanding optical fibre connectivity to schools, post offices, and hospitals in villages. She added that 5G services have been launched nationwide, with efforts underway to extend connectivity to remote regions. Improved multimodal transport and logistics, she said, are also helping remove long-standing barriers to regional development.
On scholarship-related concerns, the Minister said the government will examine the possibility of creating a centralized portal that lists all fellowship and scholarship schemes across ministries to ensure easy access for students.
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Sitharaman also unveiled three categories of AI training kits and distributed them to student beneficiaries. An MoU between TSAT and NIELIT was exchanged during the event.