Honorary Board Member, School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD)

Financial Doctor | Key Mentor | Influencer | Banking Sector Researcher | Rural & Micro Sector Analyst

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 operations across:
    • North Eastern States
    • West Bengal & Andaman Nicobar Islands
    • Bihar & Jharkhand
    • Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
  • Operational banking experience in key cities including 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.