First RPTO of Haryana

• 04 Apr 2023

Why in News?

On 2 April 2023, Haryana's Deputy Director (Horticulture) and drone instructor Dr. Satendra Kumar Yadav said that the state government has set up a Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) at the community centre building at Phusgarh village in Karnal district. This is the first Government RPTO of Haryana.

Key Points

• It is known that drones have started being used for the security of the country and the state to farm barns. For the last two-three years, the state government has also encouraged the use of drones in agriculture. This is the reason why it is being demonstrated in various agriculture and horticulture universities and research institutes.
• Recently the Maharana Pratap Horticulture University of Karnal got the first prize for spraying nano urea, DAP, chemicals on all the crops in a maximum of 700 acres in the Indian Agricultural Research Attari area.
• Haryana Government has constituted an organization Drishya i.e. Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited. This organization will operate the RPTO established in Karnal.
• From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, RPTO Karnal has a target of training about 500 youths to become drone pilots. Right now two drones have become available with RPTO.
• Drishya, which operates the RPTO, is headed by state Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while Wing Commander Giriraj Poonia, a retired Indian Navy officer, has been appointed as its CEO. IAS TL Satyaprakash has been appointed as its Managing Director.
• To take training as a drone pilot, it is necessary for the youth to pass matriculation. For this, he should have an Aadhaar card and passport. Also, his age should be between 18 to 65 years. Interested youth have to register in RPTO.
• From fertilizer to pesticide spraying in the agriculture sector, the demand for drones is continuously increasing. Apart from this, the use of drones is increasing in the telecommunication sector, mining sector, national highway and health services, due to which the demand for trained drone pilots in these sectors is also increasing.
• Deputy Director (Horticulture) and drone instructor Dr. Satendra Kumar Yadav said that an action plan for five days of special training has been prepared and sent to the government.
• Apart from this, the fee fixed by the Indira Gandhi National Flying Academy (IGRUA) is 65 thousand (GST extra), but a proposal has been prepared and sent to the government to reduce the fee to 25 thousand rupees. After getting approval from the government, fees will be fixed accordingly and training days will be fixed.