Key Highlights:
✔ Punjab leads with 1,021 drones allocated, while Haryana gets 583 under the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
✔ 500 drones already distributed to women SHGs in 2023-24, with financial aid up to ₹8 lakh per group.
✔ Scheme aims to train 15,000 women as drone pilots, enhancing farm efficiency and rural incomes.
In a significant move to modernize agriculture and empower rural women, the Central Government has allocated 1,021 drones to Punjab and 583 to Haryana under the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme. The initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, aims to distribute 14,500 drones across India, with a special focus on training women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as drone pilots.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Ramnath Thakur, shared these details in a Lok Sabha reply, revealing that 1,094 drones have already been distributed nationwide in 2023-24. Of these, 500 were allocated under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, with Punjab receiving 57 drones and Haryana 102 so far.
Tech Revolution in Farming
The scheme, backed by a ₹1,261 crore budget, seeks to introduce advanced drone technology in farming to reduce labor costs, save water, and improve crop yields. Women SHGs receive 80% financial assistance (up to ₹8 lakh) for drone procurement, along with 15-day pilot training for one member and 5-day assistant training for another.
PM Modi’s vision includes creating 2 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women earning over ₹1 lakh annually—by equipping them with tech-driven livelihood opportunities.
Challenges & Solutions
While the initiative has been widely welcomed, some operational hurdles remain. A study by the Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC) found that:
- Battery limitations restrict drone flight time to 5-20 minutes per charge.
- 42.68% of Drone Didis face transportation issues, particularly in South India (78.82%).
- 68.66% find hiring transport vehicles costly.
To address this, the government is offering additional subsidies for multi-utility vehicles to ease drone mobility.
A Step Towards Rural Empowerment
The Namo Drone Didi scheme is more than just an agricultural upgrade—it’s a transformative step for rural women, enabling them to break traditional barriers and embrace high-tech farming. With Punjab leading in allocations and Haryana following closely, the project promises to reshape India’s agrarian landscape while fostering financial independence for women in villages.
As the scheme progresses, the focus remains on scaling training, improving logistics, and ensuring sustainable adoption of drone technology across India’s farmlands.
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