Union Finance & Corporate Affairs minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, launched SAMARTH (Students Advancing Mindsets in AI, Robotics, Technology and Digital Hardware) on November 14 at NIELIT Kohima.
During the interaction hour, Sitharaman stressed the need to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school education to ensure students gain early familiarity with emerging technologies. She said such foundational learning should be followed by specialised skill development, particularly in high-demand sectors like the semiconductor industry.
The minister lauded the Tata Group for setting up a state-of-the-art ATMP production centre in Assam and said they were “doing an amazing job.” She informed that the Tatas had been requested to extend their skilling initiatives to Nagaland so that local students could access specialist training. She described it as a “brilliant opportunity” for all youth, noting that such training was not limited to engineering students.
Highlighting development in the Northeast, Sitharaman said the region continued to receive priority under the Modi government.
While NIELIT centres existed across India, she said the Northeast benefitted from strong private-sector partnerships and flexible courses that offered youth hands-on experience and employment opportunities within the region. She praised the enthusiasm of the youth, adding that “it is only right that you get it.”
Responding to a query on women’s empowerment, she said financial literacy had traditionally been a strong point of Indian women, though it may have weakened over time. She said awareness campaigns by the Finance Ministry, RBI and stock exchanges were reviving this culture. Financial independence, she added, strengthened women and their families. She also referred to PM Vatsalya Yojana and other savings-based schemes aimed at ensuring economic security for women.
On how the Government of India could transform the Northeast into a hub of innovation and trade, Sitharaman said the region remained a central focus of development, with investments in skills and infrastructure aimed at overcoming decades of neglect. With core capacities now built, the region was ready for advanced development. She said the Northeast’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure offered an advantage in linking to global markets through digital commerce, aligning with the objectives of the Act East Policy.
Responding to a student’s query on contributing to Digital India, she called such initiative “an exceptionally positive start” and said it reflected the aspiration of India’s youth to build a better and more developed nation. She urged students to remain focused and avoid being misled by drugs or bad influences, warning that such distractions could derail their potential.
Sitharaman advised youth to support one another and build confidence among peers instead of engaging in negativity, which could harm others. By enabling each other to access opportunities, she said, the present generation would lay the foundation for a strong India. By 2047, she added, when today’s youth were in their prime, they should be able to see an India they were proud of, and it was their responsibility to build that legacy.
Earlier, NIELIT director L. Lanuwabang delivered the welcome address.
The programme witnessed the exchange of an MoU between TSAT and NIELIT, and award of course completion certificates to Army Educational Corps under the Ministry of Defence. It also included the launch of the SAMARTH portal, inaugural video presentation, unveiling of two training kits and distribution of training kits to beneficiaries.
Earlier, the minister also visited an exhibition of innovations by startups and students, the India AI Lab and the R&D Cyber Forensics Lab, and interacted with students.
Sitharaman was accompanied by several dignitaries, including minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse, advisers– Kropol Vitsu and Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Director General and VC of NIELIT, MeitY, Prof. Madan Mohan Tripathi, Tim McIntosh from TATA Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd., and senior government officials.
Later, chief minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio and his lady wife Kaisa Rio hosted a State dinner in honour of Sitharaman at State Banquet Hall, CM’s Residential Complex, Kohima.
Sitharaman reviews schemes, projects in Kiphire
Correspondent
KIPHIRE, NOV 14 (NPN): Union finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is on a tree-day visit to Nagaland, on Friday reviewed the implementation of central schemes, ongoing development projects and welfare initiatives in Kiphire Aspirational District.
Addressing the gathering at Kiphire public ground, Sitharaman said she was delighted to be at beautiful and mountainous town of Kiphire.
Stating that Kiphire stands out for its fascinating history, she said this land remained unaltered even during the British colonial administration.
As a result, minister tradition here had been carefully preserved and carrying forward from one generation to the other.
She expressed belief that Kiphire, as an Aspirational District, and Nagaland would ramp-up in growth and significantly contribute to India’s Viksit Bharat dreams of 2047.
The finance minister said that Kiphire district was blessed with rich mineral resources and had a lot of potential.
Sitharaman also cited various achievements made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She said the government was giving much importance to the Northeast region of the country.
At the programme, Sitharaman handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various central government schemes during the credit outreach programme in Kiphire.
Loans worth Rs 28.02 crore were disbursed to 350 accounts during the credit outreach.
At the programme, finance minister also virtually inaugurated nine bank branches spread across the North East region during the Credit Outreach Programme in Kiphire. The branches include SBI Alongmen, SBI Yikhum, NRB Wakching, SBI Gohpur Tinali, Arunachal Pradesh, SBI New Secretariat Imphal, Manipur, SBI Lamphel, Manipur, SBI Borguri, Assam, SBI Barua Bamungaon, Assam, SBI Silchar Medical College, Assam.
Earlier, Union finance minister visited the Angawati Center at Kiphire town and briefly interacted with local Anganwadi workers, helpers and children.
The union minister also inaugurated the newly built Industrial Training Institute (ITI) campus in Kiphire and interacted with students. Union minister handed over a cheque of Rs 9 lakh to the ITI as part of SBI’s CSR initiative, aimed at supporting skill development and strengthening training infrastructure.
Sitharaman also graced the Pungro-Kiphire Mandal Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Campaign Vidhansabha Sammelan of BJP Nagaland at Hopongkiu Memorial Hall, Kiphire as the guest speaker.
Sitharaman was accompanied by Minister for Tourism & Higher Education Temjen Imna Along and Minister for Housing & Mechanical Engineering, Bashangmongba Chang. Advisor fire & emergency services, home guards & civil defence S. Kiusumew Yimchunger, and a host of dignitaries attended the programme.