Himanta Biswa Sarma praises 'drone didis' in Assam | Watch video

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video on X which depicts a few women operating drones on a ground in Assam. He praised them calling them "Droning Didis" and said they are "our pride."

 

The video is in cognisance with the Drone Didi Yojana, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at empowering women in rural India through drone technology, offering new opportunities for livelihoods and social progress.

 

Under this initiative, PM Modi distributed 1,000 drones to women's self-help groups in villages, specifically selecting women to take on the responsibility, aiming to empower them economically and technologically. Calling it a crucial scheme, PM Modi said this move will "uplift the rural agricultural economy".

 

"We will train women in SHGs to fly drones and also repair drones. The Government of India will provide drones to thousands of Women Self Help Groups (SHG).” PM Modi said. 

 

The scheme aims to achieve the following objectives:

 

1. Promote advanced agricultural technology to enhance efficiency, increase crop yield, and reduce operational costs.

2. Empower Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) established under DAY – NRLM to serve as drone service providers, leveraging their role as grassroots-level institutions for collective action.

3. Offer business opportunities to Women SHGs under DAY – NRLM to boost their income.

4. Enhance rural employment and promote financial inclusion.

5. Encourage the adoption of Nano-fertilizers and optimize the use of pesticides and fertilisers for sustainable agriculture.

 

The Union Cabinet approved the scheme with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore for the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26.