PM Modi to fly drone with drone didis today

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join 1,092 drone trained women from various States when they will be flying drones together on March 11. The Prime Minister will also interact with these drone didis. This is an initiative to empower rural women.

Talking to Bizz Buzz, Sanjeev Randeva, General Manager of National Fertiliser Ltd, who is working as a nodal officer for the project, says: “NFL CMD has already interacted with the drone didis and told them to generate revenue by way of drone services and set an example for others in future.”

The number of dronedidis is set to go up to 15,000 across the country in near future, he added.

By leveraging drone technology and promoting women’s participation in agriculture, the scheme is set to usher in a new era of prosperity and development in rural India. Drone Didi initiative is an initiative to revive agricultural practices and uplift rural women. The role of women in the agriculture-based rural economy will be strengthened by providing drones to 15,000 women-led self-help groups.

Some of the companies, which have come forward to donate drones, costing in the range of Rs5 lakh and Rs10 lakh each,to these women belonging to various self-help groups (SHGs), include NFL, Indian Potash Ltd, Kribhco, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF).

Drone didis from Madhya Pradesh (89 drone didis), Maharashtra (60), Andhra Pradesh (108) Gujarat (58), Goa (10), Haryana (102), Karnataka (145), Punjab (57), Himachal Pradesh(4), Uttarakhand (3), Rajasthan (40), Tamil Nadu (44), Kerala (51), Telangana (81), Chhatishgarh(15), Bihar(32), Jharkhand (15), Odisha (16), Assam (28) and West Bengal (15), will fly drones together. Pilot drone I will interact with the Prime Minister.

Manisha Prajapati, a drone didi from Bhopal, says: “I have already undergone a training how to fly drone for commercial purposes during January 10-15 in Indore Also, I am sure to make an earning of Rs15,000 per month by way of providing drone services.”

The Prime Minister will join the event virtually from Delhi. Drone Didis, trained by RPTO (Remote Pilot Training Organization) recognized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India, will join their respective states and fly drones.

Meanwhile, the central government is planning to increase the Lakhpati Didi target from two crore to three crore. The term ‘Lakhpati Didi’ refers to the entrepreneurship of women members of SHGs. They earn an income of at least Rs1 lakh per year using their skills.

Under Lakhpati Didi Yojana, fertilizer companies will give drones to women SHGs.These drones will be used in farming work, especially for spraying pesticides and fertilizers.

This apart, the government will spend Rs1,261 crore and provide drones to 15,000 women SHGs. 14,500 drones will be given to women SHGs during the financial year 2024-25 and financial year 25-26. Each woman will undergo about 15 days of training. Each drone pilot will get an honorarium of Rs15,000 and the co-pilot will get around Rs10,000.