Lok Sabha Question No. 754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Namo Drone Didi Scheme
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan, Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 754 TO BE ANSWERED ON:

29.11.2024

## Namo Drone Didi Scheme

754:

DR.  M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI: SHRI  RAJESH  RANJAN:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of drones distributed to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, State-wise;
- (b) the  measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to create awareness and train women SHGs to handle drones;
- (c) the details of total expenditure incurred by the Government in training and conducting these awareness campaigns;
- (d) whether the Government is considering to prioritise distributing drones to women in the coastal belt of Kerala, which can enhance their livelihood opportunities; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT.  ANUPRIYA  PATEL)

(a): The Cabinet approved Central Sector Scheme 'NAMO DRONE DIDI' for providing 15,000  Drones  to  the  Women  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs),  during  the  period  of  3  years (2023-24 to 2025-26) with a view to provide sustainable business and livelihood support to them.  1094  drone  have  been  distributed  to  drone  didis  of  SHGs  by  lead  Fertilizer Companies in 2023-24 using their  internal  resources.  The  State-wise  allocation  of  1094 drones is attached at Annexure  -A .  Out  of  these  1094  drone  distributed  to  drone  didis, 500 drones have been distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. The State-wise detail of 500 drones is placed at Annexure- B .

- (b): Under  the  Namo  Drone  Didi  scheme,  the  training  is  included  in  the  package  of drone supply:
- i. Fifteen days training at Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) recognized by Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been imparted to the Namo Drone Didis  under  the  first  phase  of  the  scheme  by  Fertilizer  Companies  through  their internal  resources.  For  the  second  phase  of  the  scheme,  provisions  have  been made for training to the Namo Drone Didis in the operational guidelines issued by D/o. Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.

- ii. The training covers drone flying, understanding provisions of Drone Rules, SOPs for nutrient  and  pesticide  application,  drone  flying  practice  and  minor  repair  and maintenance of Drones.
- iii. The  training  for  agriculture  purpose  is  conducted  by  a  team  consisting  of  drone manufacturers,  experts  from  Central/State  Institutes  like  SAUS,  KVKS,  ICAR institutes etc.
- iv. The other member/ family member of the SHG with inclination to take up repairs of electrical  goods,  fitting  and  mechanical  works  are  selected  by  the  State  Level committee who are trained as drone assistant for 5 days.
- v. Awareness generation regarding the benefits of usage of drones by NDDs is being done  by  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samriddhi  Kendras  (PMKSKs)  developed  as hubs  for  handholding  of  NDDs.  Further,  in  addition  to  the  drone  pilot  training imparted  to  the  NDDs,  entrepreneurship  trainings  have  been  provided  by  the Fertilizer  Companies  to  NDDs  for  enhancing  their  proficiency/knowledge  about usage of drones.

(c): Under  the  Namo  Drone  Didi  Scheme,  no  expenditure  has  been  incurred,  by  the Government of India, in respect of training and raising awareness campaigns towards the drones provided to SHGs.

(d) & (e): Out of the total 17 drones distributed by the Fertilizer Companies in the State of Kerala, 2 have been allocated under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.

State Level Committees is responsible for selection of appropriate clusters for drone uses, selection of progressive Cluster Level Federations and Women SHGs under DAYNRLM in the states in the identified clusters for providing drones, selection of members of women  SHGs  for  drone  pilot  and  drone  assistant  training,  assessment  of  district-wise drone  uses,  identification  of  existing  gap,  availability  and  future  requirements  of  drones uses  providing/ensuring  business  to  selected  women  SHGs  in  coordination  with  Lead Fertilizer Company and pesticides companies etc.

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## Annexure A

Annexure referred to in reply to  part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.

## 754 for answering on  29.11.2024

| S. No   | State Name       |   No. of Drones Provided |
|---------|------------------|--------------------------|
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh   |                      108 |
| 2.      | Assam            |                       28 |
| 3.      | Bihar            |                       32 |
| 4.      | Chhattisgarh     |                       15 |
| 5.      | Goa              |                        1 |
| 6.      | Gujarat          |                       58 |
| 7.      | Haryana          |                      102 |
| 8.      | Himachal Pradesh |                        4 |
| 9.      | J&K              |                        2 |
| 10.     | Jharkhand        |                       15 |
| 11.     | Karnataka        |                      145 |
| 12.     | Kerala           |                       51 |
| 13.     | Madhya Pradesh   |                       89 |
| 14.     | Maharashtra      |                       60 |
| 15.     | Odisha           |                       16 |
| 16.     | Punjab           |                       57 |
| 17.     | Rajasthan        |                       40 |
| 18      | Tamil Nadu       |                       44 |
| 19.     | Telangana        |                       81 |
| 20.     | Uttar Pradesh    |                      128 |
| 21.     | Uttarakhand      |                        3 |
| 22.     | West Bengal      |                       15 |
| Total   | Total            |                     1094 |

## Annexure B

## Annexure referred to in reply to  part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 754 for answering on  29.11.2024

| S. No   | State Name       |   No. of Drones Provided |
|---------|------------------|--------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh   |                       96 |
| 2       | Assam            |                        9 |
| 3       | Bihar            |                        5 |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh     |                       12 |
| 5       | Gujarat          |                       18 |
| 6       | Haryana          |                       22 |
| 7       | Himachal Pradesh |                        4 |
| 8       | Jharkhand        |                        1 |
| 9       | Karnataka        |                       82 |
| 10      | Kerala           |                        2 |
| 11      | Madhya Pradesh   |                       34 |
| 12      | Maharashtra      |                       30 |
| 13      | Odisha           |                       12 |
| 14      | Punjab           |                       23 |
| 15      | Rajasthan        |                       19 |
| 16      | Tamil Nadu       |                       17 |
| 17      | Telangana        |                       72 |
| 18      | Uttar Pradesh    |                       32 |
| 19      | Uttarakhand      |                        3 |
| 20      | West Bengal      |                        7 |
| Total   | Total            |                      500 |

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