A two-day national workshop focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) for financial empowerment in tribal and remote areas began today at Mizoram University. The event seeks to promote technology-led economic inclusion and enhance access to financial services through AI innovation. Organised by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Mizoram University, and IIT Bhilai’s Innovation and Bio-Inspired Technology Foundation (IBITF), the workshop brings together researchers, government officials, and industry leaders. Eleven AI-driven financial technology projects are currently active in Mizoram—six at Mizoram University and five at NIT Mizoram—as part of DST’s Tribal Area Sub Plan Scheme, under the technical guidance of IIT Bhilai.
Mizoram Governor, who also serves as the university’s Chief Rector, inaugurated the event and released a special booklet showcasing entrepreneurship support initiatives. He emphasised that AI could bridge critical gaps in financial access in the Northeast and serve as a catalyst for employment and entrepreneurship in tribal communities. Among the featured initiatives was a mobile app under development by NIT Mizoram in partnership with the state’s Transport Department. The project aims to streamline public transport by enabling online taxi and auto-rickshaw bookings.
Key dignitaries present included MZU Vice Chancellor Dibakar Chandra Deka, ICT Secretary Amit Sharma, and IBITF CTO Vishnu Vaibhav Dwivedi. Workshop coordinator Prof Ajoy Kumar Khan stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration to ensure digital transformation reaches the most underserved regions.
