Maharashtra to introduce law recognising women as independent farmers; Bill likely in monsoon session

Officials said the bill is expected to be tabled during the upcoming monsoon session.

According to the state government, women account for over 81 per cent of participation in the agriculture sector in Maharashtra, but most agricultural policies and welfare schemes remain linked to land ownership, resulting in a large number of women being excluded from benefits.

At present, women working on family-owned or community-owned agricultural land often do not qualify as farmers under existing frameworks. Similar exclusions affect women engaged in allied sectors such as fisheries, animal husbandry, poultry farming and forest produce collection.

The proposed law is expected to widen the definition of agriculture beyond conventional farming and include dairy farming, poultry, beekeeping, fisheries, sericulture, horticulture, floriculture, mushroom cultivation, agro-forestry and forest produce collection.

Officials said the government is also examining inclusion of landless farmers, tenant farmers, farm labourers, grazing-based livelihood workers and migrant agricultural labourers within the broader framework of the legislation.

The Chief Minister also asked officials to study creation of a separate Maharashtra State Women Farmers Fund dedicated to women farmers.

The government is additionally planning a digital system that would allow women farmers access to crop loans, agricultural subsidies, seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, extension services, storage, transport facilities and other social security schemes.

Water supply schemes

The Maharashtra government is planning to gradually shift all rural drinking water supply schemes in the state to solar power to reduce mounting electricity bill dues and prevent disruption in water supply, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.

Chairing a meeting on the state’s rural drinking water policy at Varsha residence, Fadnavis directed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan for solarisation of all rural water supply schemes through the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency.

Officials said around 22,185 rural water supply schemes have been identified for solar infrastructure, of which 11,643 schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission already have solar systems included in their original project estimates.

Fadnavis said no water supply scheme in the state should shut down because of pending electricity dues and asked officials to ensure schemes meet the Centre’s norm of supplying 55 litres of drinking water per person per day.