Dr Samir Barua – School of Livelihood & Rural Development

Advisory Board Member

An illustrious leader in banking, rural development and micro enterprise transformation, widely respected as a Financial Doctor, strategic mentor and policy influencer.

Dr. Samir Baruah is an esteemed Honorary Board Member of the School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD), bringing with him an illustrious legacy of leadership in banking, rural development and micro enterprise transformation. A post-retirement Ph.D. holder in Banking, Dr. Baruah is widely respected as a Financial Doctor, Strategic Mentor and Policy Influencer, with deep expertise in the rural and micro enterprise sector.

Professional Milestones

Former General Manager, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Chennai
Former Principal, Indian Overseas Bank Staff College, Chennai
Held charge as Chief Regional Manager, IOB, overseeing the North Eastern States; West Bengal & Andaman Nicobar Islands; Bihar & Jharkhand; and Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Operational banking experience in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Shillong and Chennai, with international exposure

Leadership Roles Post-Retirement

Former Director, Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd
Member, High-Level 3-Member Committee on Banking, Govt. of Assam
Former President Elect & Vice President, Rotary Club of Gauhati
Chairman, Kamrup Mentors Chapter, Bharat Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST)
Former Mentor, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Assam Start-Up

Current Engagements

Adjunct Faculty, Department of MBA, Tezpur University
Member, Selection Committee, Assam Agricultural University NEATE Hub
Chairperson, Banking & MSME, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) North East
Advisor, Banking, Laghu Udyog Bharati (NE)
Member, SIDBI Committee on Review & Rehabilitation of MSMEs
Accredited Mentor, City & Guilds, London
Mission Director, UNCTAD-EMPRETEC Mission Assam; Senior Advisor, EMPRETEC India
Member, Board of Multi Skilling Council, Assam Engineering College
Member, Board of Management Studies, Down Town University
Chief Advisor, Youth Cove Foundation & Big Mind Ltd, Guwahati
Advisor, Start-Up Assam
Jury Member, IIT Guwahati Technological Innovation Park

Areas of Expertise

Banking Sector Research & Policy Advisory
Rural and Micro Sector Finance
MSME Rehabilitation and Growth Strategy
Start-Up Mentorship and Innovation Promotion
Financial Literacy, Skilling and Enterprise Development

Dr. Samir Baruah’s unwavering dedication to empowering youth, guiding MSMEs and influencing policy makes him a cornerstone in SLRD’s mission to promote sustainable rural development and livelihood enhancement.