02-05-2025
After Just 15-Day Training, The Income Of This 'Drone Didi' Jumped Rs 10,000 A Month
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The Drone Didi scheme empowers rural women with drone skills. Sakshi Pandey from Madhya Pradesh has trained over 200 women and now earns Rs 25,000 a month
In the heart of rural India, a quiet revolution is taking flight — quite literally. The Drone Didi scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is transforming the lives of women in villages by equipping them with cutting-edge skills in drone technology. At the forefront of this movement is Sakshi Pandey from the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, whose journey from traditional employment to technological empowerment is inspiring hundreds across the country.
For Sakshi, the shift from a conventional private job, which would typically yield a modest income of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, to operating agricultural drones has proven life-changing. Today, she earns up to Rs 25,000 a month while enjoying the independence of working within her community. 'This is more than a job; it's a path to self-reliance and dignity," she says.
In 2023, Sakshi underwent an intensive 15-day training course conducted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), where she learnt to operate drones and apply fertilisers like Nano Urea and Nano DAP. Her dedication and aptitude soon saw her train over 200 women across Gwalior and Mansar in Haryana.
In recognition of her achievements, IFFCO awarded her a drone of her own, a powerful tool now central to her work and livelihood.
Efficiency Through Technology
With drone spraying, what once took hours now takes just five minutes per acre and with 100% fertiliser efficacy. The method not only saves time and labour but also conserves up to 80% of water, marking a significant step forward in sustainable farming practices.
Through the IFFCO Udaan app, farmers can now conveniently book Sakshi's services, allowing more efficient and timely fertilisation of their crops. This seamless integration of technology and agriculture is helping bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.
Opening Doors For Women Across India
The government continues to support this initiative by offering regular training sessions and financial subsidies to women interested in becoming drone operators. The Namo Drone Didi scheme is not merely a technological programme; it is a movement that is uplifting rural women, strengthening communities, and ushering in a new era of agricultural advancement.
As women like Sakshi take to the skies with drones, they are not just nurturing crops, they are sowing seeds of hope, independence, and change.
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