APSSDC trains engg graduates in drone tech

​Tirupati: Taking a step forward in offering innovative courses to youth to enhance employability, the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) has taken up ‘Drone training for engineering graduates in the state.

A total of 100 engineering graduates of Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical and Computer programme stream of engineering drawn from the 13 districts in the state are undergoing the Drone training in the 21st Century Gurukulam located on the Dravidian University campus in Kuppam in Chittoor district.

The Gurukulam, functioning in the sprawling Dravidian University campus, was selected as the area with hillocks, ridges and undulating terrain covered with forests was ideal for the hands-on training on drones, said APSSDC district manager R Lokanadham.

Two experts in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) operations Abhishek Chakraborthy, UAV Senior Engineer from Uttar Pradesh and Ajay Kotwal UAV Engineer, Jammu and Kashmir were requisitioned by APSSDC as trainers to provide training to the 100 graduates including seven women.

Such training programme being offered by government is available only in some states and in Andhra Pradesh the training is provided only in Kuppam, Chakraborthy said adding that the Drone training is immensely beneficial more as the training which opens up new vistas of employment to the engineering graduates.

The three-month training course divided into theory and practical covers the area of Drone assembling, drone piloting, data process and data technician, he said. Lokanadam said in all, the APSSDC proposed to train of 960 candidates in batches in drone operation as part its programmes for enhancement of job opportunities to the youth.

There is huge demand from the engineering graduates for drone training as municipal corporations, start-up companies in many states requiring the their services while there is demand for drone operators in agriculture, real estate, municipal corporation and other sectors also, he said.

B Kranthi Kumar, an Electronics and Electrical engineering graduate from remote Satyavedu area in Chittoor district, said his interest in UAVs saw him join the training while Prajwala Jwalitha, an Electronic Engineer from Repalli in Guntur district said she had taken up the training to get more opportunity for good placement.

Both belonging to Scheduled Castes and poor families, said the Drone training is a golden opportunity for them as the training by private agencies cost them more which they cannot afford. In one voice they lauded the facilities, including the boarding and also praised the two trainers for their friendly nature and excellent training.

Lokanadham said APSSDC was providing accommodation and food to the trainees for three months training period and certificates would be issued to the candidates after the successful completion of training. He added that the government took Drone training keeping in view the immense employment opportunities it provides in real estate, construction, agricultural and more.