Raipur, March 19 – Tech-enabled drones, once considered a phenomenon of urban areas, are silently revolutionizing agriculture across the country's vast rural landscapes. And, at the forefront of this transformation are the "Namo Drone Didis," who are not only changing farming methods but also generating significant employment.
In Chhattisgarh's Khairagarh, "Drone Didi" Savitri Sahu is earning a substantial income and creating jobs for locals while utilizing advanced agricultural technology in remote villages.
Notably, the Central government's "Namo Drone Didi" scheme aims to empower women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with drone technology to provide agricultural services.
Today, Savitri Sahu has established herself as a prominent figure in the village and neighborhood, becoming the face of modern agriculture.
The use of drones has resulted in significant productivity gains and time savings for farmers in Khairagarh. Previously, it took more than two hours to spray pesticides across a single acre of land, but now the same task is completed in just 10 minutes.
This has also led to a decrease in water and pesticide consumption, resulting in reduced operational costs and higher expectations for improved crop yields.
This has also been immensely beneficial for Savitri Sahu and her family. By providing drone services, she is earning between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per day.
The drone and the training she received under the "Namo Drone Didi Scheme" have given a new direction to her life.
Savitri's husband, Premchand Sahu, shares that for the past two years, they had dreamed of purchasing a drone to modernize their farming practices, but the high cost made this aspiration seem unattainable. Their dream finally became a reality after they received a subsidy under the Central government's scheme.
According to District Panchayat CEO Prem Kumar Patel, Savitri Sahu is among the first few beneficiaries of the scheme. She received a 15-day training in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
This "Drone Didi" from the small village of Khapri Teli has now become an inspiration for the entire region, proving that, with the right opportunities and technology, women from rural areas can also achieve great things.