Celebrated on 23rd December, Kisan Diwas, also known as National Farmers Day, is an annual observance that honours the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, a former Prime Minister of India. This day is significant in promoting awareness about the indispensable role farmers play in societal development and a country’s overall economic growth. The government organises various activities such as debates and seminars on agriculture to further inspire farmers.
The Life and Work of Chaudhary Charan Singh
Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in Noorpur, Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, in 1902. He served as the Prime Minister of India from 28th July 1979 to 14th January 1980. A strong advocate for rural and agricultural development, Charan Singh significantly contributed to keeping agriculture at the core of India’s planning. His efforts earned him the title ‘Champion of India’s Peasants’.
Charan Singh played an instrumental role in the formulation and finalisation of the Debt Redemption Bill 1939, which aimed to relieve farmers from the clutches of moneylenders. He was also instrumental in introducing the Land Holding Act, 1960, which intended to reduce the ceiling on land holdings to create uniformity across the state.
In 1967, he left Congress and established his independent party, the Bharatiya Lok Dal. He served twice as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh prior to becoming the Prime Minister. He shared his ideas and beliefs through several books and pamphlets, including ‘Abolition of Zamindari’, ‘Co-operative Farming X-rayed’, ‘India’s Poverty and its Solution’, ‘Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers’, and ‘Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum’.
Significance of Agriculture in India
Agriculture plays a fundamental role in India, with approximately half of the country’s rural households relying significantly on this sector. The 2019 Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) reveals that there are approximately 93.1 million agricultural households in rural India.
An agricultural household is identified as one that has produced field or horticultural crops, livestock, or other specified agricultural products worth more than Rs 4,000. Moreover, a member of these households must be self-employed in agriculture in the 365 days leading up to the survey. The importance of these households and the people within them only underscore the significance of agriculture in fostering India’s economic growth and societal development.