Statement

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: 17.03.2026 472 (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 asset-centric rather than livelihood-sustaining for rural women in Maharashtra? THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (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 17.03.2026 473 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 members have been provided training at the Remote Pilot Organisations (RPTOs) authorised by DGCA. The district-wise details of drones distributed in Maharashtra and SHG members trained as drone pilots are given in the enclosed Statement. (b) and (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. 17.03.2026 474 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 and chargers, calibration and maintenance challenges. (d) and (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 and 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 17.03.2026 475 charged by the CLF/SHGs for drone services shall be less than the prevailing market rate. STATEMENT District-wise details of drones distributed in Maharashtra and SHG members trained as drone pilots S.NO SHG Districts No. of SHGs supplied with drones and provided training 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 17.03.2026 476 23 Sangli 04 24 Satara 03 25 Sindhudurg 01 26 Solapur 04 27 Wardha 01 28 Washim 01 गुजरात म¤ ÿधानमंýी फसल बीमा योजना 3967. ®ी भरतभाई मनुभाई सुताåरयाः ³या कृिष और िकसान कÐयाण मंýी यह बताने कì कृपा कर¤गे िकः (क) िदसंबर, 2025 कì िÖथित के अनुसार, गुजरात के अमरेली लोक सभा िनवाªचन ±ेý म¤ ÿधानमंýी फसल बीमा योजना (पीएमएफबीवाई) के अंतगªत बीिमत भूिम का कुल ±ेýफल िकतना है; (ख) िदसंबर 2025 कì िÖथित के अनुसार, उĉ योजना के अंतगªत उĉ िनवाªचन ±ेý म¤ कुल िकतने दावे िनपटाए गए ह§; (ग) ³या Öथानीय जोिखमŌ या Öथानीय आपदाओं को कवर करने के िलए इस योजना के अंतगªत कोई अितåरĉ ÿावधान िकए गए ह§; और (घ) यिद हां, तो तÂसंबंधी Êयौरा ³या है? कृिष और िकसान कÐयाण मंýालय म¤ राºय मंýी (®ी भागीरथ चौधरी): (क) और (ख) वषª 2016 से कायाªिÆवत ÿधानमंýी फसल बीमा योजना (PMFBY) िकसानŌ और राºयŌ दोनŌ के िलए Öवैि¸छक है। गुजरात राºय ने वषª 2016-17 से वषª 2019-20 तक इस योजना के कायाªÆवयन के पIJात, इसे कायाªिÆवत नहé िकया है। इस अविध के दौरान, गुजरात के अमरेली िजले म¤ PMFBY के तहत 8.84 लाख हे³टेयर ±ेý का बीमा िकया गया और 1,62,977 िकसान आवेदनŌ को कुल 388.05 करोड़ Łपये के दावŌ का भुगतान िकया गया। 17.03.2026 477 (ग) और (घ) ÿधानमंýी फसल बीमा योजना (PMFBY) संबंिधत राºय सरकार Ĭारा अिधसूिचत फसलŌ और ±ेýŌ के िलए बुवाई पूवª से लेकर फसलोपरांत तक फसल ±ित के िवŁĦ Óयापक जोिखम बीमा ÿदान करती है। यह योजना न केवल बाढ़, जलभराव, भूÖखलन, सूखा, लू, ओलावृिĶ, चøवात, कìट/रोग, ÿाकृितक आग और िबजली िगरने, आंधी, तुफान, चøवात, बवंडर आिद जैसी गैर-िनवायª ÿाकृितक आपदाओं जलवायु संबंधी आपदाओं के कारण Óयापक उपज नुकसान से सुर±ा ÿदान करती है, बिÐक Öथानीय जोिखमŌ (ओलावृिĶ, भूÖखलन, जलभराव, बादल फटना और ÿाकृितक आग) के कारण खेत Öतर पर उपज नुकसान और चøवात, चøवाती/बेमौसम बाåरश और ओलावृिĶ तथा Öथिगत बुआई के कारण कटाई पIJात होने वाली नुकसान से भी सुर±ा ÿदान करती है। ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN BUDGET 2026-27 FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH 3968. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

Spoke Amol Ramsing Kolhe

Spoke on 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z

In debate Ruling regarding Notices of Adjournment Motion