With the right skills, young people can become competent individuals and be able to play an important role in society and the workplace. Leadership skills, ability to communicate, willingness to think critically and solve problems, etc., are important for young people to deal with problems and strive for their success in an environment of change.

The emergence of artificial intelligence and new technologies has significantly changed the skills landscape, adding the need for digital literacy and technology fluency for the workers of the future. However, while technology can carry out certain tasks, the real leaders will still be the ones who combine technology with human qualities needed for successful leaders.

In response to these changes, WeSchool is training professionals for the future through experiential education, collaborations with various industries, projects and initiatives in entrepreneurship, and a decentralised approach through the REDX Innovation Lab. The focus is also on the teaching of the principles of design thinking, readiness for artificial intelligence, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking.

It is important to understand that entrepreneurial thinking has become another crucial skill of Generation Y. The skill of recognising opportunities and taking action allows young people to become innovators who can drive change in the economy and society.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Jaikumar Srinivasan underscored that empowering young girls is fundamental to building resilient families and stronger communities. He highly lauded NTPC Bongaigaon for fostering an inspiring, protective environment and later inspected the residential amenities to interact directly with the participants. To encourage their independence and future educational journeys, Shri Srinivasan personally distributed bicycles to all 50 girls. Echoing this vision, Shri Arnab Maitra reaffirmed NTPC’s commitment to inclusive growth, defining GEM as a cornerstone initiative designed to groom confident, capable, and socially responsible future women leaders. The launch event also featured a vibrant cultural showcase, a documentary on the GEM journey, and moving success stories shared by the program’s 2023 alumni batches.

Running from July 4 to July 31, 2026, the comprehensive curriculum offers a life-enriching blend of academic learning, digital literacy, personality development, sports, creative arts, and emotional well-being. Since debuting locally in 2022, the Bongaigaon chapter has successfully empowered 210 girls, standout among which is a merit policy where the top 10% of performers—selected via independent external evaluation—receive fully sponsored free education at the township school. On a national scale, NTPC’s standard-setting GEM initiative has already transformed the lives of over 13,000 girls across India, firmly driving corporate social responsibility, gender equality, and sustainable grassroots development forward.

Bengaluru, 21 January 2025: BHIM, India’s flagship digital payments app powered by NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL) has joined forces with The FinTech Yatra 2025 as a Principal Partner. The FinTech Yatra is a 10,000 km long epic road journey aimed at identifying, understanding and catalysing players in financial services across India. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate India’s digital payment revolution by empowering communities and fostering financial inclusion.

As a part of this partnership, more than 200 individuals from select NGOs will be trained under a train-the-trainer model, equipping them with knowledge and tools to spread digital payment awareness. By empowering trainers at the grassroots level, this initiative ensures that the benefits of digital payments reach the most underserved and remote areas of the country.

Speaking on the partnership, Rahul Handa, Chief Business Officer, NBSL, said, “BHIM’s partnership with Fintech Yatra 2025 is an important step towards bridging the digital divide and educating citizens about secure and efficient digital payment solutions. This initiative aligns with our mission to create a financially inclusive and digitally empowered India. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to strengthen the fintech ecosystem.”

The FinTech Yatra 2025 is a movement to make India digitally independent. It is a platform that enables connection between innovation providers like start-ups and innovation seekers like financial institutions, venture capitalists and large corporates. By visiting multiple cities, engaging with fintech innovators, and collaborating with platforms like BHIM, the Yatra is set to amplify the adoption of seamless and secure digital payments across the nation.

Abhishant Pant, Founder of The FinTech Meetup, added, “Our partnership with BHIM brings a transformative element to this year’s Yatra. BHIM’s proven leadership in the UPI ecosystem ensures that financial inclusion is not just a vision but a reality for millions across the nation. Together, we aim to empower every Indian to embrace the digital economy. Our endeavor has been to support early stage fintech founders with idea validation, network support and guidance around venture capital, so that they become a catalyst to push for more digital adoption in financial services.”

Existing and potential fintech start-ups, students, corporates as well as academic institutions can be a part of this event by visiting yatra.connexdoor.com