Kisan Diwas, also known as National Farmers Day, is annually observed across India on December 23 to recognise and honour the major role of farmers in the growth and development of India.
The day also marks the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, a farmers’ leader who became India’s 5th Prime Minister (PM) (1979-1980).
- National Farmers Day 2022 marks the 120th birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Background:
i. In 2001, the Government of India (GoI) declared December 23 as Kisan Diwas or National Farmers Day to honour Chaudhary Charan Singh’s contribution towards the development of the agriculture sector.
ii. The 1st Kisan Diwas or National Farmers Day was observed on December 2001.
About Chaudhary Charan Singh:
i. Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on 23rd December 1902 in Noorpur, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and passed away on 29th May 1987 in New Delhi, Delhi. He served shortly as Prime Minister (PM) (1979- 1980).
- He was popularly known as the ‘Champion of India’s peasants’. ii. Chaudhary Charan Singh, popularly known as Chaudhary Saheb, was a scholar of Indian economics.
ii. He became Parliamentary Secretary in Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant’s Government in 1946 and worked in various departments such as Revenue, Medical and Public Health, Justice, Information etc.
iii. He was initially elected to the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) Legislative Assembly from Chhaprauli in 1937, and he served as a representative in the district in 1946, 1952, 1962, and 1967.
iv. He served as Chief Minister (CM) of UP in 1967–68 and 1970. Later he served as Prime Minister of India from 1979-1980.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s contribution to Agriculture:
i. Chaudhary Charan Singh introduced the Agricultural Produce Marketing Bill to the assembly in 1938, and it was approved in 1964, improving the farmers’ access to markets.
ii. Chaudhary Charan Singh amended the government plan of buying food grains directly from farmers at unfavourable prices during the drought-stricken years of 1966–1967.
iii. He wrote a unique book on Indian etiquette in one of his imprisonments, which was published with the title “Shishtachar”.
- His other books “India’s Economic Policy – The Gandhian Blue-print” and “Economic Nightmare of India – Its Cause and Cure” are masterpieces on the subject of Indian economics.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s some Notable Achievements:
- Debt Redemption Bill, 1939,
- The Consolidation of Holdings Act of 1953,
- The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari and land Reforms Act of 1952.
These acts have resulted in the abolition of the Zamindari system throughout UP.
