Summary of ‘Namo Drone Didi’ Scheme
On November 1, the Indian government launched the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, providing drones to women self-help groups (SHGs) as part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) with a budget of Rs 1,261 crore. The guidelines include forming a committee for planning and monitoring, training women SHG members as drone pilots, and offering 80% financial assistance for drone purchases. The scheme aims to supply 14,500 drones for agricultural services from 2024-25 to 2025-2026, enhancing efficiency in tasks like fertilizer and pesticide application.