Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's largest drone festival, Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022. He also spoke with Kisan drone pilots, saw open-air drone demonstrations, and met with startups at the drone exhibition centre. Among those present were Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Giriraj Singh, Sri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, Bhupendra Yadav, many Ministers of State, and leaders and entrepreneurs from the drone industry. In addition, the Prime Minister distributed 150 drone pilot certificates.
In his address to the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed his fascination and interest in the drone sector, saying he was deeply impressed by the drone exhibition as well as the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in the sector. The Prime Minister also discussed his meetings with farmers and young engineers. He stated that the energy and enthusiasm in the drone sector are palpable, indicating India's strength and desire to leapfrog to the forefront. "The sector shows great potential as a major sector for job creation," he said.
The Prime Minister recalled the new beginning exactly 8 years ago, saying, "this was the time 8 years ago when we started implementing new mantras of good governance in India." Following the path of least government and maximum governance, we have prioritized ease of living and ease of doing business. By moving forward on the path of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, we connected every citizen of the country with facilities and welfare schemes.
The Prime Minister noted that in previous administrations, technology was viewed as part of the problem, and efforts were made to portray it as anti-poor. As a result, there was a general apathy toward the use of technology in governance prior to 2014. Technology could not become a part of the governance mood. The poor, the destitute, and the middle class suffered the most as a result of this. He also recalled the complicated procedures for obtaining basic necessities, which created a sense of deprivation and fear.
He stated that progress is only possible when we change with the passage of time. He went on to say that technology has greatly aided in furthering the vision of saturation and ensuring last-mile delivery. And I am confident that by moving forward at this rate, we will be able to provide the poor segment with their entitlement through the use of the Jan Dhan, Aaadhar, Mobile (JAM) trinity, he said. "The experience of the last eight years strengthens my belief even more." "We have made technology a key tool to give the country new strength, speed, and scale," Modi said.
The Prime Minister stated that today, thanks to the country's Robust UPI framework, lakhs of crores of rupees are being transferred directly to the bank accounts of the poor. Women, farmers, and students are now receiving direct government assistance.
The Prime Minister cited PM Swamitva Yojana as an example of how drone technology is laying the groundwork for a major revolution. For the first time, every property in the country's villages is being digitally mapped, and digital property cards are being distributed to residents. "Promoting drone technology is another way for us to demonstrate our commitment to good governance and ease of living." We have a smart tool in the form of drones that will be a part of everyday people's lives," he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized the value of drone technology in defense, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, film, and entertainment. He predicted that the use of this technology would skyrocket in the coming years. The Prime Minister also discussed the use of drones in his official decision-making, citing PRAGATI reviews and Kedarnath projects as examples.
According to the Prime Minister, drone technology will play a significant role in empowering farmers and modernizing their lives. As villages gain access to roads, electricity, optical fiber, and digital technology. Agriculture work is still done in traditional ways, resulting in inefficiencies, low productivity, and waste. He also mentioned the revenue department's continued reliance on activities ranging from land records to flood and drought relief.
According to him, the drone has emerged as an effective tool for addressing all of these issues. The Prime Minister also stated that measures taken to assist agriculture sectors have made technology less intimidating for farmers.
Previously, technology and its inventions were thought to be for the elite class, according to the Prime Minister. Today, he said, “we are making technology available to the masses first. Drones were subject to numerous restrictions until recently. We were able to remove the majority of the restrictions in a very short period of time. We are also working to establish a strong drone manufacturing ecosystem in India through initiatives such as PLI. When technology reaches the masses, the possibilities for its use expand accordingly," the Prime Minister concluded.
