Earlier governments labelled technology 'anti-poor': PM Modi's dig at Opposition

He asserted the current government has ensured last-mile delivery of services with the help of technology, including drones

Inaugurating a festival of drones in the Capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the drone sector shows great possibilities for employment generation. At the Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022, Modi said that drone technology has great potential in the fields of defence, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, film and entertainment.

“The enthusiasm we see in India about drones is promising; it is an indication that the drone industry has grown by leaps and bounds. There is potential for an emerging large sector of employment generation in India,” PM Modi said.

“Drones are smart tools that will soon become part of everyday life of common Indians, whether it is on an agricultural field, or a playground, or in the media or film industry. Drone technology will revolutionise the services sector as well,” he added.

The function was attended by several union ministers as well as ministers of state including, union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Giriraj Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, Bhupendra Yadav, among others. PM Modi also distributed 150 drone pilot certificates.

Modi said that his government is committed to helping growth in the sector. “Our government has removed most of the restrictions that existed on drones in a short period of time. We are also moving towards creating a strong drone manufacturing ecosystem in India through schemes like PLI,” Modi said.

There was an environment of "indifference" towards the use of technology in governance before 2014 due to which the poor and the middle class suffered the most, he said.

During the earlier governments, technology was considered a part of the problem and efforts were made to label it "anti-poor", the prime minister added.

"Promotion of drone technology is another medium of advancing our commitment to good governance and ease of living. In the form of drones, we have a smart tool that is going to be part and parcel of people's lives,'' Modi said.

There was a time when people used to spend hours standing in line for rations. In the last seven to eight years, we have removed this hurdle with the help of technology, he said.

Claiming that earlier technological inventions were considered to be for the elite only, the prime minister said, "Today, we are ensuring that the masses are the first beneficiaries of any new technology. Drone technology is one such example."

Technology has helped a lot in ensuring the last-mile delivery of services, he said.

One of the schemes where drones will play a pivotal role is the Swamitva Yojana, through which the government aims to digitally map lands using drones, in order to ensure land title deeds are offered to rightful property holders. “Under this scheme, for the first time, digital mapping of every property in the villages of the country is being done, digital property cards are being given to the people,” Modi said. He said that till now, 65 lakh property cards have been issued under the scheme.

Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that drone demands could reach as much as one lakh drone pilots in the coming years, and that the government will help boost demand. Earlier this month, the government released two drone-related schemes, Drone Shakti and Kisan Drone, which were released by Scindia.

Addressing the event, Scindia said nothing is greater than an idea whose time has come and drone is one such idea.

India used to be a follower in the technology sector but now it has become a leader, Scindia said, adding technology will become successful only when it comes to the benefit of the less privileged and the poor.

He talked about how drones are used for land mapping in villages under the Centre's Swamitva Scheme which was launched by the prime minister in April 2021.

"A drone of just two to three kg will help in the government's plan to push 'gram swaraj' (self-reliant village) in India," Scindia said, adding the government has banned the import of drones in February to give domestic manufacturers a push.

Scindia talked about steps the government has taken in the last two years to boost the manufacturing and use of drones in the country. Currently, 12 Central government departments and 14 states are using drones, he said.

With PTI inputs