National Farmer’s Day, also known as Kisan Diwas, is annually observed across India on 23rd December to honor the farmers’ contribution to the overall social and economic development of India and commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, the 5th Prime Minister(PM) of India.
i.The theme for National Farmers’ Day 2024 is “Empowering ‘Annadatas’ for a Prosperous Nation.
- This theme underscores the nation’s commitment to supporting farmers, who are often referred to as ‘Annadatas’ or ‘providers of food,’ .
ii.23rd December 2024 marks the 122nd birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Background:
i.In 2001, the Government of India (GoI) declared 23 December, the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, as Kisan Diwas or National Farmer’s Day to recognize his contribution towards the agriculture sector and the welfare of the farmers.
ii.The 1st Kisan Diwas (National Farmer’s Day) was observed on 23 December 2001.
About Chaudhary Charan Singh:
i.Chaudhary Charan Singh, popularly known as Chaudhary Saheb, was a scholar of Indian economics. He served as the 5th PM of India from 1979 to 1980.
ii.He was born on 23 December 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh (UP).He passed away on 29 May 1987 in New Delhi, Delhi.
iii. Chaudhary Charan Singh was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2024.
- In 2008, the government renamed the Lucknow Airport as Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in his honour.
iv.He authored a book titled “Shishtachar”, a book on Indian etiquette, during his imprisonments.
- Some of his noted books and pamphlets includes ‘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’.
v.He passed away on 29th May 1987 in New Delhi. His memorial ‘Kisan Ghatin’ is located in New Delhi.
Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Contribution to Agriculture:
- Drafted the Debt Redemption Bill (1939) to free peasants from moneylenders.
- Contributed to the Land Holding Act (1960), reducing land ceiling limits.
- Advocated for Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ensure fair prices for farmers.
- Introduced the Consolidation of Holdings Act (1953) and UP Zamindari and Land Reforms Act (1952).These acts have resulted in the abolition of the Zamindari system throughout UP.
- Proposed the Agricultural Produce Marketing Bill (1938) to develop agri-market infrastructure.
- Elevated the Rural Development Department to a Ministry.
- Played a key role in the establishment of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
First Edition of Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards 2024
i.The 1st edition of Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards, instituted by the Kisan Trust, were presented in New Delhi,Delhi honoring Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh’s dedication to rural development, farmers’ welfare, and inclusive growth.
- The ceremony was graced by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education(MoE ) and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) ,and Union Minister of State,MoS (Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary, MSDE.
ii.The awards recognize outstanding contributions to rural development, agriculture, and social welfare.
- Kalam Ratna Award: Presented to Neerja Chowdhury for insightful journalism.
- Sewa Ratna Award: Conferred on Dr. Rajendra Singh, “Waterman of India,” for water conservation efforts.
- Krishak Utthan Award: Awarded to Dr. Firoz Hossain for advancing agricultural research.
- Kisan Award: Bestowed on Pritam Singh for contributions to agricultural excellence.
Key Agricultural Schemes:-
i.The Government of India(GoI) has launched key agricultural schemes showcasing its commitment to supporting farmers and improving their livelihoods.
- Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PMKMY), along with the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
ii.The government increased the budget for agriculture from Rs. 21,933.50 crore in the Financial Year 2013-14(FY14) to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore in FY25.
