A Man behind Constitution, Sir Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 130th Jayanti 2021

Written by Apurva Shinde | Intern 2021

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar looks after the interests of agricultural development, farmers and agricultural labourers. 

Dr According to Ambedkar, agricultural productivity depends not only on the size of land holdings but also on capital, labour and other resources.

The great man Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had studied Indian agriculture in depth. Wrote research articles, organized seminars, conferences and led the peasant movement to solve the problems of agriculture and farmers. His views on agriculture are found in his articles Small Holdings (1917) and States and Minorities (1947). 

Agriculture is a means of subsistence and farming on a small piece of land is the main cause of agricultural problems. Which has various disadvantages. In it, Babasaheb mentions difficulties in cultivation and use and resources, rising prices, low productivity, insufficient income and low standard of living.

 Dr According to Ambedkar, agricultural productivity depends not only on the size of land holdings but also on capital, labour and other resources. Large land is also unproductive if capital and labour are not available in abundance and quality. 

On the other hand, if these resources are available in abundance, the small size of the land will also become productive. Due to Babasaheb's far-sighted views on agriculture, the Land Retention Act was passed after independence. 

Noting that slavery and exploitation of workers in the caste system are very bad for economic development, Babasaheb fought to end the exploitation and slavery of workers.

He suggested collective farming, economic equitable distribution of land or land, large scale industrialization, credit, provision of water, seeds and fertilizers by the government, allotment of wasteland to landless labourers, minimum wage to labourers, control and regulation of private lenders lending to farmers.

Abolition of Khoti System (1949), Mahar Watan (1959) and Mumbai Lenders Act Bill (1938). There are different success stories in the Ambedkar movement. In some parts of the Konkan province, the Khotas had the right to land, a portion of which was allotted to the government by the farmers from whom the Khot revenue was collected. This was called the khoti system and due to this majority of farmers in rural areas were subjected to oppression and exploitation.