Who are the drone didis?
In 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced a scheme to train at least 15,000 ‘Drone Didis.’ The scheme’s name is the NAMO Drone Didi Scheme. Under this scheme, many women across India will receive training as drone pilots. Many women have already finished their drone training recently.
Why was this scheme launched?
The main goal is to cut down on labour costs, save time and water, and help women in rural areas. These women will use drones to spray fertilisers and pesticides in fields across their districts.
The government's Department of Fertilizers states that using drones to spray fertilisers requires less water than manual spraying.
The drone didis scheme is also part of a larger goal to create many Lakhpati Didis, or rural women earning lakhs, through self-help groups (SHGs).
Who applied to become a drone didis?
Women from different backgrounds applied to become drone pilots. They had interviews where they were tested on basic farming knowledge.
The first group of 300 women has been trained by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in partnership with a company called Drone Destination based in Gurgaon. These women come from different states.
IFFCO will also provide free drones and electric vehicles to the female pilots. They say these women can earn at least Rs 7 lakh per year.
