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Key Points

Ashaben Chaudhary’s life changed when she joined the Namo Drone Didi Yojana, swapping kitchen duties for drone piloting. She now earns ₹3 lakh annually, servicing farms across Banaskantha with her government-funded drone. The scheme aims to modernize farming while empowering rural women financially. Her success story inspires other women to embrace tech-driven agriculture.

Key Points: Ashaben Chaudhary Soars as Drone Didi Under Namo Drone Didi Yojana

  • Ashaben trains 15 days in Pune for DGCA-certified drone operations
  • Earns ₹3 lakh annually spraying pesticides in 5 Gujarat districts
  • Received ₹17 lakh kit including drone, car, and generator for free
  • Leads Ashapuri Sakhi Mandal to inspire more women farmers
2 min read

Gujarat: Namo Drone Didi Yojana gives flight to Ashaben's dreams

Gujarat's Ashaben Chaudhary transforms from homemaker to drone pilot, earning ₹3 lakh annually under PM Modi's Namo Drone Didi Yojana.

"This scheme gave me wings—now I earn ₹3 lakh yearly spraying pesticides via drone. – Ashaben Chaudhary"

Gandhinagar, Aug 8

The Namo Drone Didi scheme of the Central government has given flight to the dreams of thousands of women by empowering them financially, paving the way for their self-reliance.

Thousands of women, taking advantage of this scheme, have taken up the opportunity to become self-dependent. In Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, Ashaben Chaudhary, a native of Talepura village, has benefitted immensely from the "Namo Drone Didi" Yojana. She received requisite training under the scheme from trained professionals and is now earning a good income by spraying pesticides in the fields using drones.

There was a time when Ashaben was confined to the kitchen of her house, but today her transformation as ‘Drone Didi’ has given flight to her dreams and inspired many fellow villagers. She has brought a revolution in farming with the help of drones and is benefiting thousands of farmers.

‘Drone Didi’ Ashaben Chaudhary told IANS that after learning about the "Drone Didi Yojana", she decided to try her hand at it. “Earlier, I used to work from home, but with this scheme, I am earning a handsome amount of money,” she said. “This is a big source of income for me. Under this scheme, I received a kit worth about ₹17 lakh, which includes a drone worth ₹10 lakh, a car worth ₹5 lakh and a generator. This was given free of cost by the government,” she informed.

She expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and encouraged other women to take advantage of this scheme. She further said that her annual income is now more than ₹3 lakh. Initially, she underwent 15 days of drone operation training in Pune, which covered DGCA regulations as well as practical sessions. After the training, she started spraying pesticides with drones in the Vav, Tharad, Deesa, Vadgam and Mehsana districts of Banaskantha.

Today, she is also the head of Ashapuri Sakhi Mandal, which works with village women to encourage and persuade them to join the mission. The major objective of the “Namo Drone Didi Yojana” is to promote advanced technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation. It aims to empower self-help groups as drone service providers to increase their income and provide livelihood support.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While the scheme is commendable, I wonder about the maintenance costs of these drones after the initial free distribution. Will these women be able to sustain the business long-term? The government should provide ongoing support.
A
Ananya R
As a woman from Gujarat, I'm so proud! 💪 This is real women empowerment - not just talks but actual tools and training. My cousin in Surat is also applying for this scheme after reading about Ashaben's success.
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Vikram M
Great initiative but implementation needs monitoring. In my village, some women got drones but lack proper fields to operate. Government should first identify suitable locations before distributing equipment.
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Priya S
My mother was a farmer and I know how hard traditional spraying is. Drones are game-changers! 😊 But please ensure proper safety training - pesticide handling through drones needs strict protocols.
K
Karthik V
₹17 lakh free equipment is massive! But is there transparency in beneficiary selection? Hope deserving women across all communities are getting equal opportunity without any bias.

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