Maharashtra passes first-of-its-kind Women Farmers' Empowerment Bill
In a landmark move, the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill, aimed at recognising women farmers so they gain access to welfare schemes that have traditionally benefited men. The Bill will now be tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
This is the first legislation of its kind in India. It grants recognition to women engaged in agriculture and allied activities such as fisheries, livestock rearing, poultry farming, and collection of forest produce.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said on the floor of the House, "This will bring transformative change to the lives of lakhs of women farmers in Maharashtra. Agriculture is not merely a means of livelihood, but a symbol of hard work, culture and tradition. Despite working shoulder-to-shoulder with male farmers in every aspect of cultivation, women have never been officially recognised as farmers. The Bill seeks to correct this historic injustice."
Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharana paid tributes to M.S. Swaminathan for his contribution to Indian agriculture. The M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) played a key role in drafting the Bill, arranging stakeholder consultations and advocating for the initial legislative concepts.
Opposition leaders supported the Bill. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said it will help women secure their rights once the law recognises their contribution. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil called for co-ownership of family farms by women. Other leaders asked if the government will now make women owners of farmland.
Key provisions
The Bill will identify women farmers by issuing Women Farmers Certificates, enabling access to entitlements, benefits, subsidies, services and credit, irrespective of land ownership. Once enacted, the law is expected to address the historic systemic non-recognition of women farmers and landless labourers involved in allied activities.
The Bill provides for a database of women farmers and the creation of the Maharashtra State Women Farmers Fund. It establishes a three-tier institutional framework: a Women Farmers’ Empowerment Council, State Monitoring Committees, and a Women Farmers’ Empowerment Cell. The Council includes the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, and Agriculture Minister as ex-officio members.
A woman farmer will receive a 'Woman Farmer Certificate' as her official identity document, enabling access to government schemes, subsidies, institutional finance, and market support. Certificates will be issued by Gram Sabhas or urban local bodies, with an appeal mechanism for rejected applications.
Women Farmer Support Officers will be appointed at district and taluka levels from among existing officials. They will assist women in obtaining certificates, accessing welfare schemes, and adopting improved agricultural practices.
The government stated that the Bill aims to rectify historic injustice. "The agricultural policies, schemes, and extension systems are largely gender-neutral. However, the requirement of land ownership as a precondition for access to most agricultural schemes has rendered such schemes inaccessible to many women farmers, since only a small percentage own agricultural land. Women who cultivate family or community land without formal titles are often counted as invisible labour," the government said.
