Do you agree that the agrarian class structure in India is changing? Justify your answer with illustrations. (UPSC CSE Mains 2022 - Sociology, Paper 2)

  • The agrarian class structure in India has traditionally been characterized by a hierarchical arrangement of social classes, with landowners and large farmers at the top, followed by small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and finally, the landless poor.
  • Land is the central element to the agrarian class structure in India and caste, class and land ownership are closely linked. Dominant landowning groups are usually middle or high ranked castes, most of the marginal farmers and landless belong to lower caste groups.
  • The agrarian class structure has certain relations that are formed due to the following causes:
      1. Enforced by law.
      2. Customary of traditional.
      3. Fluctuating in character.

In recent years, the agrarian class structure has been undergoing significant changes due to various socio-economic factors.

  1. Land Reforms: Post-independence, the Indian government introduced land reforms aimed at redistributing land ownership and reducing the concentration of land in the hands of a few. These reforms included land ceiling laws, tenancy reforms, and consolidation of landholdings. As a result, the traditional power and dominance of large landowners have diminished, and the agrarian class structure has become more egalitarian.
  2. Green Revolution: The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s led to a significant increase in agricultural productivity, primarily due to the adoption of high-yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation facilities. This led to a shift in the agrarian class structure, as small and marginal farmers who could adopt these technologies experienced upward social mobility. However, it also widened the gap between the rich and poor farmers, as not everyone could afford or access these technologies.
  3. Rural-Urban Migration: With increasing urbanization and industrialization, many people from rural areas have migrated to urban centers in search of better employment opportunities. This has led to a reduction in the agricultural labor force and a change in the agrarian class structure, as the traditional dependence on agriculture for livelihoods has decreased.
  4. Mechanization and Commercialization of Agriculture: The increasing use of modern machinery and technology in agriculture has reduced the demand for manual labor, leading to a decline in the agricultural labor class. Additionally, the commercialization of agriculture has led to a shift from subsistence farming to cash crop farming, which has further altered the agrarian class structure.
  5. Government Policies and Welfare Schemes: The Indian government has introduced various policies and welfare schemes aimed at uplifting the socio-economic status of the rural poor, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households. These policies have led to a change in the agrarian class structure by providing alternative sources of income and social security to the rural poor.
  6. Education and Social Awareness: Increased access to education and social awareness has led to a change in the mindset of the rural population, who are now more aware of their rights and entitlements. This has resulted in a decline in the traditional caste-based occupational structure and a more egalitarian agrarian class structure.

The agrarian class structure in India is indeed changing due to various socio-economic factors such as land reforms, the Green Revolution, rural-urban migration, mechanization and commercialization of agriculture, government policies and welfare schemes, and increased education and social awareness. These changes have led to a more egalitarian and dynamic agrarian class structure, with reduced dependence on agriculture for livelihoods and a decline in the traditional caste-based occupational structure.



POSTED ON 26-05-2023 BY ADMIN
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