Young women should aim high and make learning a life-long habit, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advised students on Monday.
Addressing the valediction of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College (SRC) in Tiruchi, the Union Finance Minister, who graduated in Economics here from 1977-1980, said: “Set no ceiling on what you can become. As your talent grows, so will the opportunities. Girl students are doing very well in higher education, and you do not need anyone’s permission to dream. Nearly half of India’s start-ups already have women directors or partners. You alone are responsible for using your talent, for that is the surest preparation for work that does not yet exist.”
Ms. Sitharaman urged women to stay up-to-date on digital literacy. “Build skills that allow you to be useful to others. Women should be confident in using digital tools and learn how to harness emerging technologies like artificial intelligence,” she said.
She emphasised the importance of financial literacy among women in order to understand how money could be managed effectively.
Institutions like SRC should work to become a centre of research in the region and seek collaborative opportunities with leading national institutions in Tiruchi. “Skilling and AI-enabled learning are crucial for rural youth,” she said.
Sharing fond memories of her time in SRC as a student, Ms. Sitharaman praised the institution’s dedication to musical education. “I remember the little song books we used to have, and am still deeply inspired by the selection of devotional songs that we learned and sang on campus as students throughout the week. The recent launching of the Centre for Therapeutic Music is yet another way to acknowledge the potential of music to heal minds,” she said.
Kannan Panchapakesan, Director-academics, Padmabhushan Sri N. Ramaswami Ayyar Educational Complex, and SRC principal M. V. Alli spoke.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated the platinum jubilee exhibition of the college and released a souvenir to mark the occasion.
Published - October 26, 2026 05:20 pm IST