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Sangareddy’s Drone Didis Win Modi’s Praise

‘Sky Warriors’ of Sangareddy earn PM Modi’s praise as women drone pilots revolutionise farming under Namo Drone Didi Scheme.

Hyderabad: ‘Drone didis’ from Sangareddy, who learnt operating drones and are using them to spray pesticides on agricultural fields, received a fulsome praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.

Fifty women from the district were trained in using drones in agriculture under the Centre’s pilot project “Namo Drone Didi Scheme”. Under this scheme, selected women will be provided pesticide-spraying drones at 80 per cent subsidy. Calling the women “Sky Warriors”, the Prime Minister said “these women are proving that change can happen when technology and determination go hand in hand.”

“They are completing the pesticide spraying work on 50 acres of land using drones. They work for three hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. There is no heat from the sun, no danger of toxic chemicals”, Modi added.

Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, Bhavani, a ‘drone didi’ from Isojipet in Pulkal mandal of Sangareddy district, said: “We underwent a training programme for nine days. From 9 am to 3 pm, we had theory classes. After 3 pm, we had practical sessions.”

Kota Janga Reddy of the Sangareddy District Rural Development Office said, “Fiftyseven women from 13 mandals were selected for the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. Drones have been sanctioned for six women under the scheme and they received the subsidies. Collector Valluru Kranthi is coordinating with the Centre government to get subsidies for 12 more members. ”

Sangareddy collector Valluru Kranthi expressed happiness over praise by Prime Minister Modi. “It is a proud moment for the district that the Prime Minister spoke of Sangareddy women and called them ‘Sky Warriors and Drone Didis,” she said. District officials also expressed happiness over Modi’s remarks and said it would pave the way for women empowerment.

“We will be called in for additional training in Bengaluru, where they will teach us more about drone repairs and additional training models. After completing that training, we will be selected for the subsidy,” Bhavani added.

The women have also received drone pilot training as a part of the scheme’s drone package, and through Women SHGs, drones will also be given on a rental basis to farmers to spray pesticides.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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