R ARIVANANTHAM
GANDHINAGAR, JULY 30
In Vibrant Gujarat, village women are a symbol of self-reliance courage and inspiration: To uplift women from Gujarat villages and foster self-reliance, the Gujarat government drives their comprehensive development through the Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Thanks to the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat SHGs are making a remarkable progress.
ગામડાની આ મહિલાઓ આપે છે ખુમારીથી જીવવાની પ્રેરણા
બનાસની ‘ડ્રોન દીદી’: આશાબેન ચૌધરીએ છ મહિનામાં ડ્રોનથી દવા છંટકાવ કરીને ₹ 1 લાખની કમાણી કરી
ગુજરાતમાં સખીમંડળની બહેનો આર્થિક ક્ષેત્રે પગભર બની નવી કેડી કંડારી રહી છે#banas #Women #drones #gujarat pic.twitter.com/1wGXDJGiQm
— DD News Gujarati (@DDNewsGujarati) July 30, 2024
- Today, trailblazer Ashaben Chaudhary, a Drone Didi from Banaskantha district, is fulfilling her dreams and she was one among 58 Drone Didis.
- In Gujarat, women associated with Sakhi Mandals forge a new path in economic empowerment
- Under the Drone Didi program, women from 10 to 15 villages receive comprehensive training, including a 15-day course in drone operation
- The Rs 500 crore Namo Drone Didi scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected women SHGs during the period 2023-24 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers
- Success goes beyond govt jobs: Asha Ben urges women to embrace govt schemes
Today, trailblazer Ashaben Chaudhary, a Drone Didi from Banaskantha district, is fulfilling her dreams and she was one among 58 Drone Didis.
Drone Didi from Banas engineers successful in entrepreneurship
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who keeps the advancement of women as one of the core priorities, introduced the ‘Namo Drone Didi Yojana’ in 2023. The initiative aims to economically empower women through the innovative use of drones. The initiative trains women to utilize drones for spraying fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Under the Drone Didi program, women from 10 to 15 villages receive comprehensive training, including a 15-day course in drone operation. In Gujarat, one of the participants is Ashaben Chaudhary. At 31, Ashaben Chaudhary from Talepura village in Deesa taluka of Banaskantha district comes from a family that is involved with animal husbandry and agriculture. With a background in mechanical engineering, Ashaben now applies her skills by using drones to spray insecticides, demonstrating the success and impact of the Drone Didi program.
With wings of fire, Ashaben clears IFFCO Interview, exams in Pune
Reflecting on her journey of flying a drone, Ashaben shares, “Initially, I knew nothing about drones however my active participation in Sakhi Mandal programs led me to discover the Drone Didi initiative. In 2023, I underwent a 15-day training course in Pune. This followed an interview at IFFCO and an exam in Pune, where I was tested on both drone operations and DGCA regulations. Following this training, I began using drones for insecticide spraying in Banaskantha, and now, I am never short of work.”
E-Vehicle for drone transport and generator set for power supply keep their spirit soar
Ashaben has been provided a medium-sized drone, an e-vehicle for transporting it to the fields, and a generator set to ensure power availability in areas with limited electricity. Utilizing these resources, she has successfully sprayed crops such as castor, groundnut, papaya, millet, and fennel across the fields of various farmers. Remarkably, in just six months she has earned over one lakh through her work.
Sky is the limit: Drone sprays an acre in just seven minutes
Ashaben explains the benefits of drone-assisted pesticide spraying, saying, “Drones streamline the spraying process, significantly saves time and resources. The drones consume less pesticide and water yet ensures effective coverage. A drone can cover an acre of land in just seven minutes, making it especially useful for tall crops like fennel. I also facilitate the registration of farmers who use drones on the iKhedut portal to ensure they receive compensation from the state government.”
Ashaben receives orders from Ahmedabad and Surendranagar
Ashaben explains that operating drones requires meticulous attention. She inputs a field map into the drone and calibrates the compass to ensure precise operation in the designated fields. As a result, her reputation among local farmers is growing rapidly, and she is receiving excellent feedback. She happily shares, “I am receiving constant calls from Surendranagar and Ahmedabad, leaving me with no free time during the season and keeping me incredibly busy. I take immense joy in this work, and my example is often used in the community to inspire young girls.
Success goes beyond govt jobs: Asha Ben urges women to embrace govt schemes
Ashaben heads the Ashapuri Sakhimandal and, together with many other Sakhimandals, inspires women to achieve self-reliance. A mother of two daughters, Ashe Ben gets strong family support in her efforts. Inspiring women throughout the state, she says, “Success isn’t just limited to having a government job. The government provides various schemes and opportunities. I urge women to actively participate in these initiatives. I am quite satisfied with balancing my work and family life.
58 women received training in Gujarat
The initiative plans to distribute 500 to 1,000 drones to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the country during the year 2023-24. In Gujarat, IFFCO, GSFC, and GNFC have collectively distributed drones to 58 women from the SHGs.
