Lok Sabha Question No. 3966 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Distribution of Drones to SHGs
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3966

## ANSWERED ON 17/03/2026

## DISTRIBUTION OF DRONES TO SHGS

3966.  Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare:

Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:

Smt. Supriya Sule:

Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad:

Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh:

Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  limited  number  of  drones  have  been  provided  to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Maharashtra during 2023-24 to January, 2026 and if so, the district-wise details of drones distributed and SHG members trained as drone pilots;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  independently  evaluated  the actual  economic  viability  of  drone  operations  by  SHGs  in Maharashtra, particularly with respect to assured demand for spraying services, net income earned and recovery of operational and maintenance costs;
- (c) whether  instances  have  been  reported  where  drones  remain underutilised due to lack of market linkage, high repair costs, seasonal demand, or inadequate follow-up support in the State;
- (d) whether any convergence has been planned with State agriculture  departments,  FPOs  or  cooperative  societies  to ensure regular deployment of drones; and
- (e) the steps proposed to prevent the scheme from becoming assetcentric  rather  than  livelihood-sustaining  for  rural  women  in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)

- (a): The  Government  has  approved  'Namo  Drone  Didi'  as  Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24

to  2025-26.  As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Department  of Fertilizers, Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 1094 drones  to  drone  didis  of  SHGs  in  2023-24  using  their  internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones distributed, 500 drones have been distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. All these SHG Pilot Organisations (RPTOs) authorised by DGCA. The district-wise details of drones distributed in Maharashtra and SHG members trained as members have been provided training at the Remote drone pilots are attached as Annexure-I.

- (b) & (c): Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore have carried out a study on economics and business viability of drone operations on the 500 drones provided by LFCs under Namo Drone Didi scheme. The study indicates that the SHGs  earlier  were  primarily  engaged  in  agriculture  and  allied activities and the drones provided to them has expanded their niche to modern agricultural practices through drone technology, enhancing their efficiency and productivity. Overall, the adoption of drones has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices,  and  increased  income  opportunities  for  women  in  rural communities.

The specific findings of the study concerning the western including the State of Maharashtra are as under:

- i. farmers have  shown  willingness  to  use  drone  services  at  an average of Rs.379 per acre.
- ii. 99%  farmers  expressed  that  they  would  recommend  drone services to other farmers.
- iii. 82% farmers felt the rental charges were comparatively cheap. 18% found the costs affordable.
- iv. 97%  reported  water  saving,  87%  reported  savings  in  labour cost, 74% reported savings in pesticide, 77% reported savings in Fertilizer use 48% reported saving of Diesel.

Apart from economical use of drones, the study also pointed out some operational challenges such as frequent crashes, overheating of batteries, repair delays, high maintenance costs, no timely service support, transport issues, lack of batteries & chargers, calibration and maintenance challenges.

- (d) & (e): The Committee at State level  with members drawn from Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Engineering of the State, Rural Development,  State  Mission  Directorate  of  Deendayal  Antyodaya Yojana  -  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NRLM),  State Cooperative Department, Lead Banks/ National Bank for Agriculture

& Rural Development (NABARD), representatives of Lead Fertilizer Company (LFC) nominated for the state, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) is responsible for selection of appropriate clusters for drone usage, selection of the progressive women SHGs under DAY - NRLM in the States in the identified clusters for providing drones, selection of members of the women SHGs for drone pilot and drone assistant training, assessment of district-wise drone usage, identification of existing gap, availability and future requirements of drone usage, providing/ensuring business to selected Women SHGs in  coordination  with  the  LFCs  and  Pesticide  companies  etc.  The District  Level  Committee  through  the  District  Administration  for monitoring that the rent charged by the CLF/SHGs for drone services shall be less than the prevailing market rate.

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ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3966 ANSWERED  ON  17.03.2026 REGARDING 'Distribution of Drones to SHGs'.

|   S.NOSHG Districts | S.NOSHG Districts        |    |
|---------------------|--------------------------|----|
|                   1 | Ahmednagar               | 06 |
|                   2 | Akola                    | 02 |
|                   3 | Amravati                 | 01 |
|                   4 | Beed                     | 03 |
|                   5 | Bhandara                 | 01 |
|                   6 | Buldhana                 | 01 |
|                   7 | Chandrapur               | 01 |
|                   8 | Chatrapati Sambhajinagar | 01 |
|                   9 | Dharasiv                 | 03 |
|                  10 | Dhule                    | 02 |
|                  11 | Gadchiroli               | 01 |
|                  12 | Hingoli                  | 01 |
|                  13 | Jalgaon                  | 01 |
|                  14 | Jalna                    | 02 |
|                  15 | Kolhapur                 | 05 |
|                  16 | Latur                    | 01 |
|                  17 | Nandurbar                | 01 |
|                  18 | Nasik                    | 04 |
|                  19 | Palghar                  | 01 |
|                  20 | Parbhani                 | 02 |
|                  21 | Pune                     | 05 |
|                  22 | Raigad                   | 01 |
|                  23 | Sangli                   | 04 |
|                  24 | Satara                   | 03 |
|                  25 | Sindhudurg               | 01 |
|                  26 | Solapur                  | 04 |
|                  27 | Wardha                   | 01 |
|                  28 | Washim                   | 01 |

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