Women To Get Help In Farming Through Drones: The Union Cabinet has approved a central scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women self-help groups (SHGs) for two years. Rs 1,261 crore has been allocated for this scheme. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told journalists that the decision in this regard was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thakur said, the objective of this scheme is to provide drones to 15,000 selected women SHGs for agricultural purposes to the farmers during the year 2024-25 to 2025-2026. He said, out of the total 89 lakh SHGs formed under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, beneficiary women SHGs will be selected.
Central financial assistance up to Rs 8,00,000
According to the release, the government said that such places will be identified in various states where the use of drones is economically feasible and 15,000 progressive women SHGs will be selected to provide drones. For the purchase of drones, women SHGs will be provided central financial assistance up to Rs 8,00,000 for 80 percent of the cost of the drone and accessories/accessories charges. Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) of SHGs can raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement less subsidy) as loan under National Agricultural Infra Financing Facility (AIF). Thakur said, about 500 drones will be provided by fertilizer companies. The remaining 14,500 drones will be provided through central assistance in the next two years. He told that the total cost of a drone and its accessories is around Rs 10 lakh.
Announcement to empower self-help groups with drone technology
About 80 percent of the cost or up to Rs 8 lakh will be provided by the Centre. The minister said that the drone pilot will get an honorarium of Rs 15,000 and the co-pilot will get around Rs 10,000. He said that a group of 10-15 villages will be formed for the use of drones. About 1,000 hectares of land will be available for drone operations. In this, importance will be given to commercial crops. According to the statement, one member of the women SHG will be selected for the 15-day training. This includes five-day mandatory drone pilot training and an additional 10-day training for agricultural purposes. Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day speech on August 15, had announced to empower self-help groups with drone technology.