CHENNAI, Sep 15: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday called upon members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha to take up leadership roles, shoulder greater responsibility and place national interest at the forefront of their careers and public lives.
Addressing the 36th convocation ceremony of Dr M G R Educational & Research Institute in Chennai, Sitharaman told graduating students that India was ready to hear their aspirations and ideas, while urging them to consider how they could contribute to the country’s progress.
She encouraged the young graduates to look beyond personal expectations and reflect on their responsibilities towards society and the nation.
“Whether you call yourselves Gen Z or Gen Alpha, we are all ready to listen to what you have to say,” she said, asking students to remain aware of developments around them and consider the role they could play in shaping the country’s future.
Sitharaman urged the graduates to assume leadership in their respective fields and remain committed to the national interest. She asked them to consider what they could do for the country instead of focusing solely on what they expected from it.
“Take up leadership. You must lead, and you must put the country first,” she said, stressing the importance of a secure and strong nation for the well-being of its citizens.
Referring to ongoing conflicts in different parts of the world, the minister said instability could force people to leave their homes and countries, underlining the importance of safeguarding national security and stability.
Sitharaman also highlighted India’s economic performance amid global uncertainty. She pointed to challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and instability in the Middle East, which have affected supplies and prices of crude oil, natural gas and fertilisers.
Despite these international pressures, she said India had maintained macroeconomic stability and recorded a 7.8 per cent growth rate. She attributed the country’s economic resilience to what she described as strong political leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The minister also highlighted the growing opportunities available to young professionals in Tamil Nadu, describing the State as an important centre for industry and technology.
She cited the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam corridor as a major global hub for automobile manufacturing and smartphone exports. Tamil Nadu, she said, is also home to around 350 Global Capability Centres, representing about 10 per cent of the country’s total.
Coimbatore has emerged as another important centre, with around 80 GCCs employing nearly 12,000 professionals, while Madurai and Tiruchirappalli are witnessing the growth of new industry clusters.
Sitharaman further highlighted measures in the Union Budget aimed at supporting women’s participation in the workforce. She said provisions had been made for working women’s hostels in every district to support women pursuing education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Drawing from the teachings of the Thirukkural, she reminded students about the lasting value of education and the importance of patience, humility and thoughtful action.
She advised the graduates to avoid arrogance, remain humble and face challenges without developing a sense of victimhood.
More than 3,200 students from medical, dental, engineering, allied health sciences, law and management disciplines received their degrees at the convocation.
University Founder Chancellor A C Shanmugam and Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran were among those present at the ceremony.