Jagjivan Ram was a visionary leader who fought to uproot untouchability and poverty: Kalaburagi Mayor Yallappa Naikodi

Calling former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagijivan Ram ‘a visionary leader who relentlessly fought against untouchability and poverty’, Kalaburagi Mayor Yallappa Naikodi said that the former’s initiatives like the Green Revolution helped India achieve food security.

Calling former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagijivan Ram ‘a visionary leader who relentlessly fought against untouchability and poverty’, Kalaburagi Mayor Yallappa Naikodi said that the former’s initiatives like the Green Revolution helped India achieve food security.

“When heavily populated India was struggling to feed its people, Jagjivan Ram took an innovative step to modernise agriculture and increase food production. Because of his initiative, popularly known as the Green Revolution, the country could considerably increase its food production and achieve food security,” he said.

He was speaking at 118th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram at Town Hall in Kalaburagi on Saturday.

Allamaprabhu Patil, MLA for Kalaburagi South, who presided over the event, highlighted Jagjivan Ram’s fight against the oppressive caste system and untouchability.

“Babu Jagjivan Ram dreamt of an equitable society where all communities could stand on an equal footing without any exploitation, oppression and discrimination. He was a great social reformer who fought for equality. His contributions to modernising Indian agriculture by introducing advanced seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and farm implements were unparalleled.  His efforts not only helped India achieve increased productivity and food security but also helped farmers increase their incomes,” he said.  

Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum said that Babu Jagjivan Ram was in the Union Cabinet for thirty years and made great contributions to the country’s education system.

“He was a great leader who firmly believed that only education can bring a positive transformation in the deprived and disadvantaged communities at the bottom of society. That is why he always focussed on improving the education system and orienting it to the development of oppressed communities. We need to understand his vision and make sure that our children are educated,” she said