Garuda Aerospace launches equality drone training program

PUNE: In a bid to strengthen its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEandI) initiatives, Garuda Aerospace has launched the Equality Drone Training program along with Bharat Drone Association and National Drone Pilot Association, specifically designed for persons with disabilities, its officials said.

The program will provide free-of-cost training, education, and skill development over a span of 10 days to persons with disabilities, kickstarting in Chennai. The Equality Drone Training program is supported by Varsha Kukreti Augustine, Founder and CEO of AutoMicroUAS, and Dr. MJ Augustine Vinod, Group Captain (Retd).

Equality Drone Training program is designed to train individuals with physical disabilities including deafness, speech impairments, and mobility constraints. The programme with theory and practical sessions will cover aspects across both, maintenance and operation including data analysis. The program spans utilisation of drones across agriculture, surveillance and mapping, and e-commerce and delivery, thus equipping participants with skills required across a range of industries. The training is tailored to individuals depending on their disability to further empower them.

"Drone technology is becoming an integral part of businesses across categories. The need for drone pilots is now more pressing than ever. Garuda Aerospace along with Bharat Drone Association and National Drone Pilot Association have always been at the forefront of identifying and training new talent, thereby consistently creating opportunities for youth to become independent. More importantly, further strengthening our DEandI outlook, our new training program is designed to skill and upskill persons with disabilities; it empowers youth with a need of the hour skill set. We are proud to be an enabler on their journey of self-reliance and financial independence. We have already welcomed 20 persons from Chennai and will soon begin rolling the program out across India with an aim to skill at least 10,000 persons by 2025. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to Varsha Kukreti Augustine, Founder and CEO of AutoMicroUAS, and Dr. MJ Augustine Vinod, Group Captain (Retd), for their invaluable support and collaboration in this endeavour.” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO at Garuda Aerospace.

“It has been a fantastic journey providing drone exposure to students with special needs since 2015. Creating an inclusive learning environment is crucial to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to learn and explore their potential. By offering drone training to students with special needs, Integrated Drone Training Academy (IDTA) provides them with a unique and exciting learning experience and empowers them to become competent creators and contributors in the drone ecosystem. This inclusive approach helps break down barriers and promotes the idea that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can actively participate and excel in various fields. I am proud of how IDTA has shaped and continues to provide opportunities for students with special needs to explore their interests and talents in the world of drones.” said, Varsha Kukreti Augustine, Founder and CEO of AutoMicroUAS.

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