Mahindra & Mahindra Joins MSDE to Skill Women to Become Drone Pilots
Mahindra & Mahindra has partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) for the Drone Didi Yojna, a program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to train women as drone pilots. The collaboration includes conducting pilots at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) in Hyderabad and Noida to train 500 women in batches of 20 each.
The 15-day curriculum, approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, will be led by RPTO (Remote Pilot Training Organisation) instructors at these centers. The training focuses on equipping women with skills for agricultural applications, including fertiliser sowing, crop monitoring, and seed sowing.
Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD of Mahindra Group, expressed enthusiasm for the program, stating that it represents a convergence of women, farming, and technology, while advancing agriculture for the future. Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, emphasized the program's role in upskilling women and its potential impact on nation-building.
The initiative aims to train 15,000 women across the country. Learnings from the pilot project will guide the expansion of the Drone Didi Yojana at other identified NSTIs or ITIs nationwide. Mahindra plans to extend the training to women at its skilling centers in Zaheerabad, Telangana, and Nagpur, Maharashtra.
