Govt to provide agri-drones to 15,000 women SHGs: PM in I-Day speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that the government will soon launch a scheme to provide agri-drones to 15,000 women self-help groups (SHGs), to begin with. The government will train the women to fly as well as repair the unmanned aerial vehicles. Around 10 crore women are associated with SHGs in the country.

In his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day, Modi said the government is working on a new scheme to increase use of technology in the agriculture sector and promote agri-tech. "We will train women in SHGs to fly drones and also repair drones. The Government of India will provide drones to thousands of Women SHGs," the Prime Minister said. Initially 15,000 women SHGs would be covered under the scheme, he said.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also said that under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN), an amount of more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore has been deposited in the accounts of farmers. The government provides Rs 6,000 annually in three tranche to farmers.

He further said to empower farmers, the government has also provided fertilizer subsidies of more than Rs 10 lakh crore. “To give urea that costs Rs 3,000 per bag globally at a cheaper rate of Rs 300 per bag to farmers, the government allocated Rs 10 lakh crore as urea subsidy,” he said.

He said India is focusing on women-led development, and highlighted the achievements made in various fields, including, aviation. "The one thing that will take the country forward is women-led development," he said. Referring to the works being done by women SHGs in rural India, Modi said his dream is to see that two crore women become "lakhpati", and the government is contemplating measures to realise the goal.