Shimla - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, emphasized the promotion of IT-driven governance in the state during the closing ceremony of the first-ever North India's 'Drone Conclave' held virtually today.
The event witnessed the signing of significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) amounting to Rs. 200 Crore, signaling the state's commitment to embracing technological advancements.
Chief Minister Sukhu underscored the potential benefits of drone technology, particularly in the agricultural and law enforcement sectors.
He highlighted how drones could play a vital role in benefiting farmers, horticulturists, and monitoring law and order in Himachal Pradesh.
The challenging topography of the hilly state further emphasized the importance of leveraging modern technology to overcome such obstacles.
Expressing the government's commitment to embracing technology, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the usage of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to enhance governance and bring about transformative changes in Himachal Pradesh. He called upon the Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agricultural University in Palampur to showcase the use of drone technology on its campus and encourage farmers to embrace technological advancements for increased efficiency and economic growth.
Chief Minister Sukhu expressed his pleasure regarding the signing of an MoU for drone manufacturing in Himachal Pradesh and assured the investors of full support and necessary facilities from the state government. The government also pledged to procure drones for usage in the public sector.
The 'Himachal Drone Conclave' witnessed the signing of five significant MoUs. One agreement was made with FICCI to promote the use of drones in governance. Additionally, agreements were also signed with Abecode Technologies Private Limited and Dronetech Solutions Private Limited for investment in Himachal Pradesh.
SkyeAir, in collaboration with the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance, was contracted for an Unmanned Traffic Management solution to oversee flight operations. Another collaboration was formed between CSKHPKV and IIT Ropar, focusing on areas such as AI-based digital entomology, livestock management, cold chain management, IoT, precision agriculture, and drone technologies.
Expressing gratitude for organizing the Himachal Drone Conclave, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Ashish Butail, commended the state government's efforts to maximize the benefits of technology for the people. Principal Advisor (IT and Innovations), Gokul Butail, emphasized the Chief Minister's visionary leadership, stating that drone technology could provide employment opportunities for the youth in the near future.
The conclave witnessed the participation of representatives from 26 private companies and 25 state government departments.
Secretary of Information Technology, Dr. Abhishek Jain, provided a detailed overview of the conclave, highlighting the collaborative efforts between industry players and the government to harness the potential of drone technology for the state's development.
