Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikas Debbarma has formally submitted a proposal titled “Drone Pilot Training Project for Tribal Youths” to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, seeking Central support for a transformative technology-driven livelihood initiative.
Speaking about the proposal, Minister Debbarma said it was his “privilege to forward the project for kind perusal and necessary support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.”
Debbarma highlighted that bridging this technological gap is essential for improving rural livelihoods, “This directly affects income, opportunity and the possibility of growth,” he noted.
Addressing these challenges, the proposed programme aims to train tribal youths and women in modern agricultural drone operations, enabling them to become:
- Certified Drone Pilots
- Providers of Drone-based Spraying and Survey Services
The Minister said the initiative is designed not only to modernise farming practices but also to open new income avenues. According to the proposal, trained beneficiaries may potentially earn up to ₹1 lakh per month, depending on the scale of service operations.
Calling the programme a gateway to long-term economic empowerment, Debbarma said:
“This project is more than a skill programme—it is a bridge to self-reliance, dignity, and a new era of agricultural transformation.”
The Tribal Welfare Minister strongly recommended that the Union Ministry approve the initiative, expressing confidence that it would have a profound socio-economic impact, particularly in remote and hill regions of Tripura.
If approved, the project is expected to play a significant role in shaping a tech-enabled rural workforce and ushering in more efficient farming practices across the state.
