Tamil Nadu to strengthen women's land rights with incentives, says minister

The Tamil Nadu government is working to boost women's participation in the workforce, especially in rural areas, and strengthen nutrition programmes by promoting protein-rich foods and traditional millets, State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P. Venkataramanan said on Saturday. He was speaking at the valedictory session of a two-day conference organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai.

The minister said the government hoped to discuss measures to incentivise women's land ownership and strengthen their land rights during the ongoing Budget session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly or in the next session. This, he noted, would be part of the state's broader efforts to empower women economically and socially.

The conference, titled "Building Gender-Just Food, Land and Water Systems," was convened against the backdrop of the United Nations' International Year of the Woman Farmer. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of MSSRF and former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, said the global observance recognises the indispensable contributions of women to agriculture, fisheries, pastoralism, biodiversity conservation, food and nutrition security, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women India Country Office, said gender should be mainstreamed across agriculture and the entire food value chain. While targeted programmes continue to address specific gaps faced by women, she stressed the need for systemic changes. Singh also underscored the importance of strengthening markets for women-led commodities such as millets and vegetables, and involving the private sector. "Gender-responsive interventions present both a responsibility and a commercial opportunity," she said.

Among those present at the valedictory session were Purvi Mehta, Member of the Board of Trustees of MSSRF, who joined virtually; N.R. Bhanumurthy, Director of the Madras School of Economics; and E.D. Israel Oliver King, Director of Biodiversity at MSSRF.

The focus on women's land rights comes at a time when women make up a significant portion of India's agricultural workforce, yet their ownership of land remains limited. Studies have shown that securing land rights for women can lead to higher agricultural productivity, improved household nutrition, and more sustainable use of natural resources. The Tamil Nadu government's stated intention to address this issue through possible incentives could have far-reaching implications for rural women.

The minister's remarks also highlighted the state's commitment to tackling malnutrition through dietary diversity. Promoting traditional millets and protein-rich foods is seen as a cost-effective way to improve nutrition, especially among women and children in rural areas.

As the conference concluded, participants expressed hope that the discussions would translate into concrete policy actions. The minister's assurance that the matter will be raised in the legislative sessions indicates that women's land rights are now firmly on the policy agenda in Tamil Nadu.