Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman continued her visit to Nagaland today with a series of engagements aimed at empowering local communities and fostering development. In Kiphire, Ms Sitharaman inaugurated the new Industrial Training Institute, and handed over 9 lakh rupees as part of SBI’s CSR initiative to enhance skill development. Later, at a Credit Outreach Programme, she virtually inaugurated nine bank branches across the Northeast, and handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various Central Government Schemes.
At the event, loans totaling 28.02 crore rupees were disbursed to 350 beneficiaries. Addressing the event, the Union Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to develop the Northeast, stressing its importance in India’s growth trajectory. Underscoring the progress of financial inclusion programs, Ms Sitharaman pointed to the reduction of unbanked villages in Nagaland from 1,143 in 2019 to just 15 today.
Earlier, the Minister flagged off vehicles sanctioned under Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative, along with a mobile ATM van of Nagaland Rural Bank. She also interacted with Lakhpati Didis and encouraged them to inspire other women across the country.
Meanwhile, in Kohima, the Finance Minister launched SAMARTH (Students Advancing Mindsets in AI, Robotics Technology and Digital Hardware) portal at NIELIT this evening.
