Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the government is prioritizing early exposure to Artificial Intelligence and new-age technologies, adding that she has requested the Tata Group to explore semiconductor-related opportunities in Nagaland following its ATMP facility coming up in Assam. She said the Northeast is demonstrating “readiness in skills, training and enthusiasm,” positioning the region for advanced industries.
Sitharaman made the remark while addressing students during the launch of the Students Advancing Mindsets in AI, Robotics, Technology and Digital Hardware (SAMARTH) initiative at NIELIT Kohima, marking a major central intervention in digital skilling for the Northeast.
The Union Finance Minister is on a three-day visit to Nagaland and arrived in Kohima on Friday from Kiphire. During her Kohima stop, the Minister inaugurated the SAMARTH Portal, unveiled three AI training kits for student beneficiaries, and reviewed technology infrastructure at the India AI Lab and the R&D Cyber Forensics Lab.
An MoU between TSAT and NIELIT was also exchanged.
On women’s financial literacy, Sitharaman said that while women have traditionally handled household finances, the current economic environment requires them to understand “modern financial tools,” urging them to utilise small savings schemes, stock market options and collateral-free loans. She also highlighted the PM Vatsalya scheme as a long-term savings instrument for families.
Responding to a query on digital learning in rural areas, the Minister said the BharatNet programme is expanding optical fibre connectivity to schools, post offices and hospitals, and noted that 5G services have already been rolled out nationally, with coverage in remote regions being expanded by both public and private operators.
Sitharaman further said that the Northeast is witnessing parallel growth in “coal, cement, renewable energy, green hydrogen and semiconductors,” and added that improved multimodal logistics are addressing long-standing connectivity challenges, allowing industries to scale without depending on sequential development.
On scholarship-related concerns, she said the government will examine the creation of a centralised portal listing all fellowship and scholarship schemes across ministries to make access easier for students.
Earlier, NIELIT Kohima Director L. Lanuwabang delivered the welcome address. Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse, Advisors Kropol Vitsu and Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, DG and VC of NIELIT Prof. Madan Mohan Tripathi, and representatives from TATA Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd., including Tim McIntosh, were present at the event.