Guwahati: The North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) on June 25 inaugurated Northeast India's third Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO), in collaboration with Jawahar Nehru College, Boko and training partner EduRade.
The RPTO aims to empower the youth and boost the regional economy by showcasing the capabilities of agriculture drones for spraying and how they can increase livelihood sources for the people of the region. A unique type of drone named aerostatic drone was also showcased during the event.
Laya Madduri, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, stressed that drones will be a game changer in the Northeast due to efforts of the Prime Minister and central government through schemes such as Drone Didi. She also narrated an incident of how a drone was used to deliver relief materials in flood-affected areas of Cachar.
Nandita Das, MLA of Boko Legislative constituency, expressed excitement about the opening of the RPTO, stating that it will bring prosperity to the region and set an example for the whole Assam.
The RPTO was inaugurated with the first batch of female pilots getting training from the 8 Northeastern states of the country. Arun Kumar Sarma, Director General of NECTAR, highlighted the importance of the drone ecosystem in the Northeast and stated that the establishment of an RPTO in the Northeast region significantly enhances the employability of locals by providing specialized drone pilot training, aligning with DGCA standards.
The RPTO will initially focus on producing women pilots in Northeast so they can avail the Drone Didi scheme.
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
