Every year, National Farmers’ Day, popularly known as Kisan Diwas in the people of India, is followed on December 23 to pay tribute to the much hardworking efforts of these farmers who indeed are considered the backbone of the economic position that flourishes in the country.
It marks the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the fifth Prime Minister of India. He had striven toward making the lives of such farmers more prosperous.
Kisan Diwas reminds one to respect and appreciate the hard work that has gone into doing the work that farming people do in feeding the country and uplifting the economy of the country.
It is high time their appreciation to do what they are doing becomes high, and doesn’t take much to realize how badly it gets sometimes.
Events and programs are lined up throughout India in all states to celebrate and show appreciation towards them-from agricultural fairs, workshops, and notable farming awarding.
Let’s take some time in the year 2024 by dedicating December 23rd to thanking and celebrating our farmer for all the hard work into providing food for the people.
History and Significance of Kisan Diwas
Kisan Diwas, or Farmer’s Day, is observed every year in India on 23 December. It is the birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was India’s 5th prime minister and fought and formulated policies to give much more favorable conditions to the farmers.
Early Life of Chaudhary Charan Singh
He was born in a small Uttar Pradesh village on 23 December 1902. He hailed from an extremely poor farm background and was always close to the problems of the agrarian community.
Political Career and Reforms
A very important theme of his whole political career has been on reforms on the agriculture sector, more so attributed to this.
A welfare policy he had in place of the politicians regarding farmers. Meaning all the reforms land in he brought for not letting the poor small farmers being exploited by big landlords.
That was short of his policies bringing the abolishment of Zamindari wherein all the tillers would be given rights towards their lands.
End
His birthday anniversary was declared, in the year 2001 as Kisan Diwas, by the government of India as an ode to his contribution for the nation.
The very important contribution of farmers for the economy of this country is recognized on the same day, and the memory of this great personality’s legacy is commemorated, and programs and events organized on the day for education of farmers with new techniques of agriculture and government policies that are to the advantage of the farmers.
How to celebrate Kisan Diwas at schools and communities
Celebrate farmers for all their hard work, by raising awareness about them being able to contribute to society; here are some simple-yet-impactful ways this day can be celebrated within schools and communities.
1. Organize Educational Programs
School seminar that should highlight how crucial agriculture is, how challenging it is for farmers, and how they help the progress of the country. This is an opportunity for the school to invite guest speakers in front of the students who would learn more about the world of farming from professionals in agriculture and farmers themselves.
2. Essay and Drawing Competitions
This is by asking them to write essays or drawings on the topics of farm or agriculture and the life of Chaudhary Charan Singh. This provides an artistic form of expression over knowledge that the importance of Kisan Diwas represents to students.
3. Cultural Performances
Organize cultural events including skits, plays, songs that highlight the struggles and importance of farmers. Students should organize dramas or folk dances relating to rural life, contributing factors in the farmer’s community.
4. Pay Tribute to Farmers Day
Communities can have a small tribute ceremony to the local farmers. It could be a speech on Kisan Diwas history, silence for the fallen farmers, or a community leader speaking for the efforts of farmers.
5. Distribute Plant Saplings
Let us provide a sapling of any tree/plant for the school students and even families; it can simply be used to indicate care for nature, like farming every single day, to help pay tributes to the farmers community.
6. Food and Craft Fairs
Schools and communities can hold fairs showcasing organic produce, homemade food, and crafts made by farmers. This will be a chance for the farmers to sell their products directly, educating other people about the sustainable practices of farming.
7. Volunteer Involvement
Engage the kids and community members to volunteer on local farms; hands-on experience helps instill a deeper understanding of their hard work, building empathy and respect for the agri-community.
8. Social Media Campaign
Educational institutions and communities can bring awareness through social media through hashtags like #KisanDiwas, sharing facts with regard to farming, local agriculture importance, and gratitude toward farmers.
Government Initiatives and Schemes for Farmers
The Indian government has various schemes to support farmers with enhancing their income. There are some prominent schemes such as monetary support, technological implementations, and agricultural infrastructure development
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
In this scheme, direct income support is provided to the farmer in the form of annual payment of ₹ 6,000 in three equal installments. This scheme aims at the supplement of farmers income, especially the small as well as marginal farmers.
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
It provides a crop insurance scheme that prevents the farmer from losing a lot of money due to crop damage caused by natural disasters and provides compensation for this too.
3. Soil Health Management
This program provides farmers soil health cards, which make the farmers realize what all nutrient requirements their soil has. This helps them in promoting the use of sustainable farming with increased productivity.
4. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
NMSA promotes high productivity and sustainable agriculture that includes soil health building, water management, organic farming. All these contribute towards sustaining agricultural productivity much beyond the short cycles of time.
5. Kisan Credit Card
This facility of Kisan credit card makes easy access of credits by farmers with funds for agricultural activities that also include seeds, fertilizers, and equipment at effective rate of interest.
6. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
PMKSY provides irrigation facilities for all the fields and thus for the same water, results for more crop production that less dependency on water due to rain.
7. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
RKVY focuses on the development of the agriculture structure and technology and the equipments and providing subsidy under this head will increase productivity along with income also.
8. E-NAM (National Agriculture Market)
The e-NAM will give direct electronic trading platform which links buyers with farmers and sell to them a better decent price with market transparency in terms of their pricing.
Government schemes give power to the farmer and stabilized finance is available to those who work in agriculture with increases in its productivity.
Conclusion
Celebrating Kisan Diwas 2024 is going to be a fantastic celebration that will help Indians cherish the rich contributions of farmers towards the country. So many educational programs, community events, and various activities can be arranged by everyone in honor of hard work and dedication of them. Joining such celebrations is also the way to express gratitude as it is going to raise further awareness about the importance of agriculture in developing the country. Come on. Let us celebrate Kisan Diwas with gratitude and respect, ensuring that the spirit of the day inspires and uplifts the farming community.
