We are not just homemakers anymore,” Sunita Devi, better known as ‘Solar Didi’ at ABP Network’s India @2047 Summit
· “Drones were scary at first, now I am ‘Drone Didi’ for 500 acres,” Sunita Sharma, Drone Didi
· “I earned over a lakh in a year as a ‘Solar Didi’,” Sunita Devi, Solar Didi.
· “Rotavators and shredders made farming easier,” Ramilaben Parmar, Lakhpati Didi
At the Tech for All – The Digital Democracy session of ABP Network’s India @2047 Summit, women from marginalised backgrounds captivated the audience with their journeys from obscurity to national recognition as skilled technicians and entrepreneurs.
Sharing her inspiring story in the session, Sunita Sharma, better known as ‘Drone Didi’, reflected, “I had never seen a drone before. I was very scared of drones in the beginning. When I first heard we would be learning to fly drones at the training centre, I couldn’t believe it.”
Through initiatives like the Namo Drone Yojana, solar training programs, and agricultural subsidies, she trained on simulators and now operates real drones, covering 500 acres, mainly spraying urea for irrigation. “Drones are a big help in agriculture. They are easy to use and very efficient,” she added.
Jaswinder Kaur, a record-holding drone operator, shared her story, “My family supported me a lot in learning to operate the drone. When I got this opportunity, I signed up, though it was very challenging. But I did not give up, I kept moving forward.”
Having sprayed across 1,500 acres, she credited the support of Government of India, stating, “The Modi government chose women like us to be empowered, and today, we stand before you as Drone Didis.”
Sunita Devi, also known as ‘Solar Didi’, spoke about her transformation from homemaker to technician, “Earlier, my work was limited to household chores. I was just a homemaker and never got the chance to do something different. Then I joined a self-help group and became a member. That is when I learned about solar panels and now I am earning over a lakh in a year. Today, people know me as ‘Solar Didi’, and I have earned respect for myself in the community.”
Devki Didi, another ‘Solar Didi’, shared how solar energy transformed her family’s fortunes, “When I first spoke about solar energy, my family thought I was joking. My husband couldn’t afford the training cost at that time, but we managed to arrange a loan and got the solar system installed. After that, things began to change. Our financial condition improved significantly. We’ve even helped several farmers, and solar has become a great source of income for us.”
Ramilaben Parmar, who is known as ‘Lakhpati Didi’, further highlighted the impact of agricultural technology, “Everyone placed their trust in us and supported us with loans. Within three months, we received our subsidy. Now, we rent out the machines to others as well. The rotavator and shredder have been a great support, they have improved the quality of our land and made farming easier for many. Since income often depends on the weather, this equipment has become a reliable way to sustain and grow our earnings.”
Vaishaliben Gadiya, another ‘Lakhpati Didi’, spoke of her journey sparked by adversity, “It began during the COVID-19 period. Since then, my financial condition has improved significantly.” Her resilience and access to technological resources have made her a symbol of empowerment, inspiring others to embrace opportunities in challenging times.
ABP Network’s India @ 2047 Summit is a premier platform bringing together the country’s most influential voices across governance, business, history, spirituality and culture, science, international diplomacy, sports, music and entertainment to map India’s journey toward becoming a fully developed nation by the 100th year of its independence. Set against the backdrop of an emerging India, the summit serves as a powerful platform for dialogue, vision, and strategy, where national aspirations meet global perspectives. The Summit convenes changemakers and pathbreakers from India and around the world who will shape India’s future narrative in the making of Viksit Bharat.