Suhail Bhat, TwoCircles.net
Gurugram (Haryana): On a Monday morning in Manesar, a village in Gurugram district, Haryana, a group of four women attentively follows instructions from their female drone instructor. “These propellers need adjustment before we take the drone into the sky,” advises Nisha, the master instructor at the Drone Destination programme.
Anita is among the many women benefiting from the Drone Destination’s pioneering ‘All Women Drone Pilot Training Program’, launched in collaboration with IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd.) and leading drone companies. This initiative is transforming women’s roles in agriculture across Haryana and other states.
“We live in a village where men dominate every field, and women are barred from using new agricultural technologies. I am thrilled to call myself a drone pilot in my village,” shares Anita from Furkabad, Uttar Pradesh.
This training program is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Lakhpati Didi Yojana’, which empowers women-led self-help groups (SHGs) by equipping them with drone technology skills to start their own businesses.
Women from villages in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been enrolling in the Drone Destination’s programme. Hundreds of new drone pilots are now seeing the benefits of this scheme, gaining both additional income and a unique position in their communities.
Drone Destination provides free training, including accommodation and meals, for women from disadvantaged backgrounds who often face numerous obstacles in accessing such opportunities.
“We believe that drone technology will lead to more precise farming methods and create new income opportunities for our farmers. Our goal is to ensure that women are integral to this technological advancement,” says Chirag Sharma, CEO of Drone Destination.
Having already trained over 4,000 farmers, including 1,000 women, through government programs, the Drone Destination aims to not only teach women how to operate drones but also to help them become independent business owners in the agricultural sector. “Our current trainees are exceptionally passionate and have made remarkable progress. They are now prepared to apply their skills in their agricultural fields,” Nisha adds.
She explains, “We begin with theoretical classes to cover the basics, and then transition to practical lessons in the fields, where they learn to operate the drones and use the remote controls effectively.”
The significance of women’s earnings is paramount. Traditionally, women have suffered injuries and spent long hours carrying 15 kg spray machines for manual fieldwork. “I now feel confident operating drones in my fields. It allows me to earn well and gain respect in my village. Other women in my village are now eager to take drone training,” says Afsana from Madhya Pradesh.
Over the next year, the Drone Destination plans to expand this initiative nationwide, targeting the training of over 10,000 women from self-help groups. The courses will include comprehensive aspects of drone operations and maintenance to ensure participants are fully equipped to manage and operate drones effectively.
The program is already making a significant impact, transforming the lives of women from remote areas where farming is the primary income source. Traditional methods have been labor-intensive and inefficient, making this new technology a game-changer.
A trainee from Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, expresses her enthusiasm: “Becoming a drone pilot was my dream for making farming tasks easier and more efficient. I’m proud to be the only woman in my village who has taken this initiative,” says Parveen Saini.
These training programs are not only boosting the local economy but also empowering women who have been marginalized. By saving money on sprays and creating new job opportunities as drone operators, these women are driving change in their communities. “We look forward to expanding our efforts and reaching more rural villages,” says Nikhil Misra, head trainer at the Drone Destination in Manesar.