The Hindu (Tiruchirapalli)

It has been a decade of digital transforma­tion, says Nirmala

Nirmala Sitharaman says Mahatma Gandhi fought for freedom from imperialis­m, and India is now gaining supremacy in digitisati­on in the fields of banking, healthcare, and agricultur­e

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The benefits of freedom, as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi, have been accelerate­d in the past 10 years through the digital transforma­tion brought about by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

The Union Minister was speaking at Shrimati Indira Gandhi College in Tiruchi, after unveiling a statue of the father of the nation at the historic spot under the peepal tree where he had addressed staff and students of what was then the campus of National College High School in 1934.

“Gandhiji fought for freedom from imperialis­m;

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiling a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Shrimati Indira Gandhi College in Tiruchi on Saturday.

we are now working towards economic independen­ce. India’s presidency of G20 showed our supremacy in digitalisa­tion not just in banking, but also in healthcare and agricultur­e. Our achievemen­ts have made us the cynosure of the world today as a role

model for positive digital growth,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

Students are ambassador­s of the advancemen­ts that India would achieve by 2047, embodying both a modern temper and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, the Minister said.

Recalling her days as a student in Tiruchi, Ms. Sitharaman said the city was an important part of the nation’s conscience as a hub of culture, education, and patriotism.

She said empowermen­t of women had been enabled by technology­driven innovation­s, especially in rural areas.

“Men may be driving tractors on the fields, but the controls of the drones that spray nutrients and fertiliser­s on the crops, are in the hands of women,” she said.

Kishore Nagappa, who sculpted the Gandhi statue, and nadaswaram exponents Kasim and Babu were among those felicitate­d at the gathering.

College CEO K. Chandrasek­haran spoke.

 ?? R. SELVA MUTHU KUMAR ?? Tributes to Mahatma:
R. SELVA MUTHU KUMAR Tributes to Mahatma:

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