Modi Government made women empowerment as a cornerstone of Governance since it took over in 2014. However, there is now a noticeable shift in its approach. While the previous strategy centered on creating women-centric programs, the current approach advocates for a more comprehensive framework where women actively engage and assume leadership roles across diverse areas of development. Namo Drone Didi scheme is one such noticeable shift.
At the Sashakt Nari – Viksit Bharat programme held at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed drones to 1,000 Namo Drone Didis from various parts of the nation, who showcased their skills simultaneously from 10 different locations.
Namo Drone Didis also operated 100 drones simultaneously at the Phulpur unit of IFFCO. Similarly drone demonstrations also held at Motihari, Bihar and Chennai, Tamil Nadu where the drone pilots managed 104 and 20 drones respectively. Later, Dr. U S Awasthi, MD, IFFCO, shared a video of the flying drones, earning significant praise from the wider community.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his belief in the potential of ‘Nari Shakti’ to lead India’s technological revolution in the 21st century. He highlighted the remarkable achievements of Indian women in sectors like IT, space, and science, underscoring India’s first position in the number of women commercial pilots worldwide.
Through the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ initiative, approximately 15,000 self-help groups will be connected, aiming to train women as drone pilots. These drones will serve various agricultural purposes, including crop monitoring, fertilizer spraying, and seed sowing, thereby creating additional income opportunities for numerous women across the country.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the expanding landscape of drone technology in India and the myriad opportunities it will offer to Namo Drone Didis. He lauded the significant growth of Self-Help Groups over the past decade, attributing it to their pivotal role in empowering women and reshaping the landscape of women empowerment in India.
The Prime Minister asserted that his initiatives, such as the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, stem from practical experiences and on-ground realities.
Recognizing the achievements of Lakhpati Didis, who have excelled with support from the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission, Prime Minister Modi announced a target increase from 2 crores to 3 crores for Lakhpati Didis during the presentation of the Interim Budget 2024-25 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Finance Minister Sitharaman had highlighted the transformative impact of 83 lakh Self-Help Groups, involving 9 crore women, in rural India, contributing to empowerment and self-reliance. These achievements have facilitated approximately 1 crore women in achieving financial independence.
During the event, Prime Minister Modi facilitated the distribution of approximately Rs 8,000 crore in bank loans to Self-Help Groups at subsidized interest rates, along with Rs 2,000 crore in Capitalization Support Funds, further bolstering women’s economic empowerment and skill development initiatives.
