Maharashtra Gets 1st DGCA-licensed Female Drone Pilot

In a big step towards promoting gender neutrality in agro-technology, Leenta Shelke Waghmare of Wardha district in Maharashtra becomes first female drone pilot in the state. With this, she also becomes second female drone pilot in the nation.

'Salam Kisan', India's fastest growing data-driven and farmer-focused agricultural forum, has trained Leenta.

Leenta Shelke Waghmare said, “Having grown up in a farmer's family, I was always interested in agriculture. When I joined Salam Kisan, Dhanshree Mamni encouraged me to equip myself with more skills. I was inspired by the fact that she was modernizing farming operations while running a large company. With their support I completed this extensive training and learned to fly the drone. It is a dream come true and now I can help improve the daily operations of farmers. I am happy that I am contributing to the agriculture sector of the country.”

Salam Kisan has taken a big step towards promoting gender neutrality in agro-technology by admitting Leenta to the drone trainer programme. She was trained under a five-day intensive training program at a DGCA approved institute. Leenta's determination and enthusiasm has broken down traditional barriers based on gender and has proved a role model for the future of agriculture. Her success is not only an inspiration for women aspiring to become drone pilots, but also a symbol of women's ability to shape the future of agriculture.

Dhanshree Mandhani, founder and CEO of Salam Kisan , said, “We have also been consistently working towards inclusion of women in the formal workforce. Out of hundreds of our field officers, Leenta came forward as the flame of this transformation. Starting out as a field officer in a male-dominated field, she has today become Maharashtra's first drone pilot. It is a matter of great pride for me and I look forward to this journey with them. It is also encouraging that the Government of India is undertaking a similar initiative with its upcoming plans, where drones for agriculture will be provided to 15,000 women self-help groups.”