Developed nation remains a distant dream unless agriculture develops: Vice Prez Dhankhar

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday stated that agriculture is the backbone of rural development and emphasized that without the advancement of agriculture, the dream of a developed nation remains far out of reach. "Agriculture is the spine of rural development. Unless agriculture develops, the rural landscape cannot be transformed. And without transforming the rural landscape, we cannot aspire to become a developed nation. To achieve developed nation status by 2047, our income must increase by eight times. This is a significant challenge. However, it can only be addressed when the village economy flourishes. The village economy can prosper only when farmers and their families are involved in marketing, value addition, and the creation of self-sufficient clusters," Vice President Dhankhar said.

The Vice President made these remarks during the Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards 2024 ceremony, where he recognized outstanding achievements in agriculture, rural development, and journalism. Speaking at the event, Vice President Dhankhar praised the remarkable legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh, highlighting his dedication to rural development, farmers' welfare, and inclusive growth, as stated by the Vice President's Secretariat. Praising Chaudhary Charan Singh, Dhankhar said, "Chaudhary Charan Singh was one of the finest individuals in the country. A person who exemplified transparency, accountability, integrity, and commitment to rural development and farmers, and was fearless in expressing his views."

Reflecting on Chaudhary Charan Singh's leadership, Vice President Dhankhar noted, "Chaudhary Charan Singh is a symbol of sublimity, statesmanship, farsightedness, and inclusive growth. It is no surprise that he became the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India, and later the Prime Minister of India." The Vice President also expressed concern over the lack of recognition for Chaudhary Charan Singh's contributions, saying, "It pains the heart when people fail to appreciate the significant contributions of this man. His outstanding qualities, deep commitment, and profound understanding of rural India are subjects for global reflection. A son of the soil, he was concerned not only about rural India but also about urban India, with a vision aligned with our civilizational values." In his address to the awardees of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards 2024, Vice President Dhankhar spoke about India's economic progress, stating, "India is undeniably on the rise. Our economy is flourishing. We are the fifth-largest economy globally and are on track to become the third-largest, surpassing Japan and Germany. However, to become a developed nation by 2047, our income must increase by eight times — a formidable challenge."

To address this challenge, Vice President Dhankhar stressed the need to strengthen the village economy. "The village economy can only grow when farmers and their families are engaged in activities such as marketing, value addition, and creating self-sufficient clusters. The largest market we have is agricultural produce, yet farming communities are often not involved in it. The farming sector must be prioritized by the government to become an engine of economic growth," he emphasized. The Vice President also highlighted the importance of democracy, saying, "Expression and dialogue define democracy. A nation's democracy is reflected in how individuals and organizations express themselves. For democracy to succeed, expression and dialogue must go hand in hand, with responsibility on both sides."