The Drone Didi Yojana is a scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide drones to women self-help groups (SHGs). The scheme was approved in a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi on 28 November 2023. The goal is to improve efficiency of agriculture by enabling use of drone technology for spraying fertilizers and pesticides. Under this scheme, the government will provide drones to 15,000 women SHGs over the next 4 years from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Objectives of the Scheme
The main objectives of the Drone Didi Yojana are:
- Provide drones to women SHGs to promote use of technology in agriculture
- Improve productivity and reduce costs through efficient drone based spraying
- Empower women by training them as drone pilots or 'Drone Sakhis'
- Increase income of farmers by enabling advanced techniques like precision farming
Key Features
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Assistance for Drone Purchase | 80% of cost or maximum Rs 8 lakhs |
| Drone Pilot Training | 15 days training for Drone Sakhis |
| Monthly Honorarium | Rs 15,000 per month for Drone Sakhis |
The government will provide extensive support to women SHGs under the scheme. This includes subsidized loans for purchase of drones, training of women as drone pilots, and a monthly honorarium.
Benefits
The Drone Didi Yojana will benefit multiple sections:
- Women SHGs will get livelihood opportunities as drone operators
- Farmers can increase productivity and reduce costs through drone based agriculture
- Rural economy will benefit from increasing farmer incomes
- Advanced technology will transform the agriculture sector
By enabling drone use at scale, the scheme will accelerate technology led growth in agriculture. It will open up new avenues of socio-economic growth.
Implementation Methodology
The scheme will be implemented through the following process:
- Selection of women SHGs in clusters of 10-15 villages
- Training one woman as Drone Sakhi per cluster
- Providing subsidized loans to SHGs for drone purchase
- Making drones available to farmers on rent for agricultural use
- Monitoring operations and maintenance by Drone Sakhis
The cluster based approach will ensure effective coverage across rural areas. The trained Drone Sakhis will operate and maintain the drones at local level.
Current Status
The Drone Didi Yojana has been approved by the Prime Minister. However, the detailed guidelines are yet to be released by concerned ministries.
- The baseline budget allocated is around Rs 261 crores
- The scheme is expected to be launched in 2023-24
- Applications will open after release of guidelines
The scheme is currently in planning stage and will be rolled out after budget allocation and formulation of standard operating guidelines.
Conclusion
The Drone Didi Yojana aims to empower women and boost farm productivity through innovative use of drone technology. The scheme has tremendous potential for generating rural self-employment and transforming Indian agriculture. However, its success will depend on efficient planning and implementation. Overall, it is a progressive step towards leveraging technology for inclusive growth.
FAQs
Q1: When was the Drone Didi Yojana launched?
A1: The Drone Didi Yojana was approved by the Union Cabinet on 28 November 2023 chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, it is yet to be implemented.
Q2: Who can apply under the scheme?
A2: Women self-help groups (SHGs) can apply to get drones under the subsidy program. The detailed eligibility and application process will be released later.
Q3: What subsidy will be provided for drone purchase?
A3: Under the scheme, 80% subsidy or maximum Rs 8 lakhs will be provided for purchase of drones by women SHGs.
Q4: How many drones will be given in the initial phase?
A4: In the first phase, the scheme plans to provide 15,000 drones to women SHGs across India.
Q5: What is the role of Drone Sakhi?
A5: The Drone Sakhi will be the trained woman drone pilot from each SHG cluster. She will operate, maintain and provide drone services to farmers.
Q6: How will farmers access drone services?
A6: Farmers can rent drone services from the women SHGs in their area for agriculture purposes like spraying fertilizers/pesticides.
