Vice President acknowledges contribution of ‘Annadata’ towards nation-building, describes agriculture as the backbone of Indian economy

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar presided over the 61^st convocation ceremony of ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) in New Delhi today. In his convocation address, he emphasized that agricultural education should become the epicentre of research, innovation and entrepreneurship for the progress of the country.

Highlighting that agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, Shri Dhankhar acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the ‘Annadata’ towards the overall progress of the nation. He commended the commitment of the country’s farm sector which made it possible to ensure food security for over 800 million people, even when the world was in the midst of a pandemic. 

The Vice President lauded India’s efforts towards marking the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, and its significance for the agriculture sector across the world. He also noted the increasing use of cutting-edge technology in agriculture, including drones, which is transforming this sector in tandem with changing times.

Shri Dhankhar dwelled upon the steps taken to uplift the farm sector. ₹2.2 lakh crore has been transferred to over 11.4 crore farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi initiative, he noted in his address.

Vice President Dhankhar highlighted that the immense talent pool of ICAR-IARI is drawn from all sections which truly represent India. “It is drawn from the segment that has the most authentic enterprise, mission and passion to give everything for the country,” he said.

Shri Dhankhar urged the young minds to take pride in India’s achievements and its credentials as the Mother of Democracy. Describing the Parliament as the temple of democracy, the Vice President said it is meant for dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation, and should not become a platform for disruption and disturbance. The privileges granted under Article 105 of the Constitution come with heavy responsibility, and are not unqualified, the Vice President said.

Observing that no civil or criminal case can be filed against members for what they say inside the House, Shri Dhankhar stressed that every word spoken in Parliament should be after due thought and consideration. “Parliament cannot be allowed to become a platform with free fall of information,” he added.

During the convocation, Vice President Dhankhar presented the Merit Medals and Awards to the meritorious students of ICAR-IARI, and also released 16 different varieties of cereals, fruits and vegetables. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Kailash Choudhary, senior officials and scientists of ICAR-IARI and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Following are the excerpts from the Vice President’s Address:

देश के अन्नदाता को मेरा प्रणाम। उपस्थित किसान भाइयों का अभिनन्दन।

मेरा नाता काफी पुराना है आपकी संस्था (IARI) से। मैंने आपकी पैरवी न्यायालय में की है। आपकी प्रतिभा से मैं भली भांति परिचित हूं। पर एक विशेष बात जो आपकी संस्था में है वो है – the intake to the institution of ICRA-IARI is primarily drawn from representative India. It is drawn from the segment that has most authentic talent, enterprise, entrepreneurship and mission & passion to give everything for the country.

आज के दिन मैं विद्यार्थियों से एक बात कहना चाहूंगा, जो माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने कई बार कही है – Never have tension, never have stress.

India’s rise is unstoppable. We are amongst the most favorite destinations of opportunities and investment. और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण एक ऐसा इकोसिस्टम develop  हो गया है कि Every impressionable mind can exploit fully his/her talent or potential. हमारे समय हालात ये नहीं थे।

Agriculture is the spine of our economy. Agriculture and agro based industries are the driving force of our economy and because of them India is a rising star in the global economy. India attained the status of 5^th largest economy overcoming erstwhile rulers U.K. in the first week of September, 2022. Indeed, it is a milestone achievement and farm and agro sector had significant contribution in India’s global rise.

We cannot allow anyone to taint, tarnish and diminish achievements of those who are sweating for this nation. By the end of this decade, economists agree… हां कुछ लोग जो यहां RBI में काम कर चुके हैं, Chief Economic Advisor रह चुके हैं, वो विदेश से आये। आकर एक पद ग्रहण किया और जब समय खत्म हो गया तो renewal की चेष्टा की, नहीं मिला तो वापस विदेश चले गये और वहां से कहेंगे, भारत में food crisis हो सकती है। मैं पश्चिम बंगाल का राज्यपाल रहा हूं और मैंने देखा है… कोविड के दौरान 80 करोड़ से ज्यादा लोगों को अनाज दिया गया और दिया जा रहा है। ऐसा संभव क्यों हुआ – क्योंकि हमारा अन्नदाता है, आप लोग हैं।

By the turn of the decade, India will be the 3^rd largest economy of the world. और आप लोग – युवाओं को नींव डालनी है कि 2047 में अपना भारत दुनिया को क्या-क्या देगा? In 2047, when India enters centenary of its independence, it will be a focal point for entire globe for peace, harmony, security and growth.

You have the capacity, intellect, attitude and inclination to add value to agriculture produce और ये भारत के अंदर आर्थिक क्रांति का बहुत बड़ा मुद्दा बनेगा। मेरा सुझाव है कि ऐसी व्यवस्था की जाये कि किसान अपने कृषि उत्पाद का value addition अपने खेत में ही कर सकें।

भारत की पहल पर UN ने वर्ष 2013 को International Year of Millet घोषित किया है। हमारे बड़े बुजुर्ग कहते थे – मोटा खाओ, मोटा पहनो, सुखी रहो।

मेरा आपसे ये आग्रह है कि एग्रीकल्चर एजुकेशन को एक नया आयाम दें। Agriculture education should become the epicenter of entrepreneurship that should result into research & innovation. Agriculture implements… उनमें भी आप लोग बहुत कुछ कर सकते हैं। मेरा अटूट विश्वास है कि अन्नदाता की जितनी मदद करोगे भगवान आप पर उतनी ही कृपा करेगा।

आज ‘Lab to Land’ का बहुत बड़ा मूवमंट चल रहा है। I am confident that IARI will continue to serve the nation with innovations, quality human resource and technological adaptations in the agriculture and farm sector.

We are the mother of democracy, we are the largest democracy, we are the most functional democracy.

We as Indians must always keep our Bharat first. We must be proud Indians and take pride in our great accomplishments.

मेरी एक पीड़ा आपके सामने रखकर मैं वाणी को विराम दूंगा। भारत दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा लोकतंत्र है। हमारी संसद लोकतंत्र का सबसे बड़ा मंदिर है। उस मंदिर में जो भी कोई बोलता है, उस पर कोई मुकदमा नहीं हो सकता neither civil nor criminal. हमारे संविधान निर्माताओं ने इतना बड़ा अधिकार अनुच्छेद 105 के माध्यम से दिया कि संसद सदस्य सदन में बेबाक होकर अपनी बात कहेगा। ये प्रिवेलेज है पर एक चीज को हम नजरअंदाज करते हैं कि यह privilege unqualified नहीं है। जहां एक ओर 140 करोड़ लोगों में से कोई मुकदमा नहीं कर सकता – दीवानी या फौजदारी, तो हम लोगों का दायित्व है, उत्तरदायित्व है कि जो कुछ सदन में बोलें, जिम्मेदारी से बोलें, प्रमाणिक तरीके से बोलें।

नियमों के तहत पीठासीन अधिकारी का यह कर्तव्य है कि बाहर किसी भी व्यक्ति के आचरण को ठेस न पहुंचे। सदन के बाहर अगर वही बात कही जायेगी तो प्रभावित व्यक्ति मानहानि का मुकदमा कर सकता है, फौजदारी मुकदमा भी कर सकता है।

This privilege comes with very heavy responsibility and that responsibility is that every word spoken in the parliament must be after due thought, after due consideration. It can’t be based on unverified situations. संसद को वो अखाड़ा नहीं बनने दिया जा सकता जहां free fall of information हो।

Parliament, the temple of democracy is meant for dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberations. जब इस मंदिर में ये बातें न होकर, disruption and disturbance होता है तो मेरे पास हजारों की संख्या में लोगों के इनपुट आते हैं कि इस व्यवहार से हम दुखी हैं। आपके माध्यम से में ये आग्रह करूंगा कि जनमानस को इन दो मुद्दों पर गंभीर चिंतन करना चाहिए और चिंता करनी चाहिए क्योंकि जब भारत की rise exponential है, unstoppable है तो इस पर कुठाराघात करने के कुप्रयास निराधार मापदंडों पर कहीं से भी आ सकते हैं। It is the job of intelligentsia and every person particularly young minds to take note of it and neutralize it.