Mumbai: In a landmark step towards recognising the contribution of women in the agricultural sector, the Maharashtra Legislative Council has unanimously passed the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill. The legislation, which had already received approval from the Legislative Assembly last week, aims to officially recognise women engaged in farming and allied activities as farmers, enabling them to access government welfare schemes, institutional credit, subsidies, financial assistance and other benefits.
The Bill was introduced in the Legislative Council by Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne. It seeks to address the long-standing issue of women being excluded from farmer-centric welfare measures because agricultural land is often registered in the names of male family members. Despite playing a significant role in agricultural operations, many women have remained ineligible for various government schemes due to the lack of formal recognition.
Under the proposed law, eligible women will receive a Woman Farmer Certificate, allowing them to avail themselves of government programmes and financial support. The legislation also extends recognition to women involved in allied agricultural activities such as animal husbandry, poultry farming, fisheries and the collection of minor forest produce.
To strengthen institutional support, the Bill provides for the establishment of a Women Farmer Empowerment Council, a Women Farmer Empowerment Cell, a State Monitoring Committee, a comprehensive database of women farmers and a dedicated Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers. The fund will finance welfare programmes, training initiatives, financial assistance and other measures aimed at improving the socio-economic status of women in agriculture. It will receive financial support from both the Centre and the Maharashtra government, along with donations and other contributions.
During the discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve backed the legislation, highlighting that while nearly 80 per cent of women participate in agriculture, only 13.96 per cent own agricultural land. He noted that around 48 per cent work on family farms, while another 33 per cent are employed as agricultural labourers. Danve described the Bill as a significant step towards acknowledging the contribution of women who have worked in agriculture for years without official recognition.
Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe also welcomed the legislation, stating that it would benefit thousands of women working on farms despite not owning land in their names.
The Bill will come into effect after receiving the Governor’s assent, marking a significant policy shift towards strengthening women’s rights and inclusion in Maharashtra’s agricultural sector.
