Maharashtra passes Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill granting independent farmer status to women
Summary
- The Maharashtra Assembly approved the Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill, which recognises women as farmers irrespective of land ownership.
- The legislation aims to address long‑standing structural bias that excludes female agricultural workers from official records.
- A dedicated database of women farmers will be created to streamline their inclusion in existing and new welfare schemes.
- The Bill is expected to improve women’s access to credit, subsidies, insurance and other agricultural support programmes.
Key Facts
- · State: Maharashtra
- · Bill name: Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill
- · Recognition: Women classified as farmers even without land titles
- · Database: State will compile a registry of women farmers
- · Objective: Facilitate women’s eligibility for welfare schemes such as crop insurance, credit, and subsidies
Why it matters
By formally acknowledging women as farmers, the Bill removes gender‑based barriers, enabling them to claim government benefits, which can boost agricultural productivity, rural incomes and advance gender equity in India’s agrarian sector.
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