FM Sitharaman urges Gen Z, Gen Alpha to embrace leadership, put nation first

Chennai: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday urged members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha to embrace leadership, take responsibility and prioritise national interest, asking them to focus on what they can contribute to the country rather than what they can receive from it.

Addressing the 36th convocation ceremony of Dr M G R Educational & Research Institute in Chennai, Sitharaman said the aspirations of young people would be heard, but stressed the importance of civic duty and active participation in nation-building.

“Whether you call yourselves Gen Z or Gen Alpha, we are all ready to listen to what you have to say. But you must reflect on what is happening around you, what your role is, and what can be achieved for the country through you,” she said, invoking the principle of asking what one can do for one’s country.

Calling on the graduates to lead in their respective fields, the minister said national interest should never be compromised.

“Take up leadership. You must lead, and you must put the country first. Only if the country remains secure and strong will we have a home to live in. We should never give up our country,” she said, referring to ongoing conflicts that have forced people to leave their homelands.

Sitharaman highlights India’s economic resilience

Sitharaman said India had maintained macroeconomic stability despite global uncertainties, including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East that have affected supplies of crude oil, gas and fertilisers.

She said the country had recorded a 7.8 per cent growth rate and attributed its economic resilience to strong political leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Highlighting employment and professional opportunities, the minister said Tamil Nadu had emerged as a major industrial and technology hub. She cited the Sriperumbudur-Oragadam corridor as a leading global centre for automobile manufacturing and smartphone exports.

Tamil Nadu, she said, has 350 Global Capability Centres (GCCs), accounting for about 10 per cent of the national total. Coimbatore alone hosts 80 GCCs employing 12,000 professionals, while Madurai and Tiruchirappalli are also witnessing rapid growth in such clusters.

Focus on women’s workforce participation

Sitharaman also referred to provisions in the Union Budget for establishing working women’s hostels in every district. The initiative, she said, was aimed at encouraging women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to participate in the workforce.

Quoting couplets from the Thirukkural on the lasting value of education, patience and thoughtful action, she advised the graduates to remain humble, avoid arrogance and face life’s challenges without adopting a victimhood mindset.

More than 3,200 students from medical, dental, engineering, allied health sciences, law and management streams received their degrees at the ceremony.

University Founder-Chancellor A C Shanmugam and Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran were among those present.