Tripura has proposed a Drone Pilot Training Project to empower tribal youths through modern agricultural technology. The initiative aims to create certified drone pilots, boost rural incomes, modernize farming practices, and strengthen technology-driven livelihoods across the state’s indigenous communities.
In a forward-looking move aimed at transforming rural livelihoods, the Government of Tripura has proposed a comprehensive “Drone Pilot Training Project for Tribal Youths”, designed to introduce advanced drone-based agricultural services across the state’s tribal regions. The proposal, formally submitted by State Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, outlines a bold initiative meant to merge modern technology with traditional farming practices for long-term socio-economic upliftment.
Tripura, where nearly 32 percent of the population belongs to indigenous communities, continues to depend heavily on agriculture as its primary source of income. However, most tribal farmers still use age-old techniques that are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often yield poor returns. Government records indicate that over 75 percent of tribal agriculturists follow traditional cultivation and spraying methods, limiting both productivity and profitability.
Recognizing these structural challenges, the proposed project aims to train tribal youths and women to become certified drone pilots, equipped with specialized skills to operate drones for spraying, surveying, and precision farming. The plan envisions these trained individuals not only as operators but as service providers capable of delivering drone-based agricultural assistance to farmers across hard-to-reach hilly and forested terrains.
According to the proposal, the structured training programme will empower beneficiaries with industry-level competence, enabling them to earn up to Rs 1 lakh per month through professional drone services. The government believes this income-generating potential can significantly boost self-reliance among tribal families and reduce their economic vulnerability.
Minister Debbarma stressed that the initiative is more than just a skill development project. It is, in his words, “a bridge to self-reliance and dignity” for thousands of tribal youths who often lack access to modern technical education. He added that introducing drone operations into the agricultural system will mark a historic shift in Tripura’s approach to tribal empowerment.
“This project will usher in a new era of agricultural transformation. It will empower tribal youths to stand as contributors to India’s tech-enabled farming future,” Debbarma said.
Drones have increasingly become a major tool in precision agriculture across India, allowing farmers to monitor crop health, apply fertilizers, and conduct land surveys with enhanced accuracy and efficiency. Tripura’s proposal intends to bring these advancements directly into the hands of indigenous communities, ensuring they are not left behind in the country’s digital development trajectory.
The project also aims to modernize farming practices in remote tribal belts by reducing dependence on outdated manual labor and improving productivity. Enhanced crop yields, minimized input costs, and increased efficiency are among the expected direct benefits of large-scale drone use. Furthermore, the initiative has the potential to establish a technology-driven livelihood ecosystem, allowing tribal youths to provide drone services to government departments, private agricultural firms, and individual farmers.
Another key advantage of the proposed programme is its ability to create employment opportunities within the state itself. With many tribal youths migrating in search of work, a sustainable tech-based income model could help curb outward migration and strengthen local economies.
The Tribal Welfare Department has strongly emphasized the project’s potential to reshape Tripura’s agricultural landscape. By positioning indigenous youths at the forefront of technology-enabled farming, the initiative could serve as a model for other northeastern states aiming to bridge the digital divide in rural sectors.
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Minister Debbarma concluded his proposal with a strong recommendation for central support, asserting that the initiative would bring “profound socio-economic impact” and reinforce the government’s long-term vision of inclusive development. If approved, the project is expected to become one of Tripura’s most impactful technology-driven empowerment programmes for tribal communities.
