Maharashtra Government Establishes Committee to Draft Women Farmers Empowerment Bill
The Maharashtra state government has taken a significant step toward empowering women in agriculture by setting up a dedicated committee to draft a new bill focused on women farmers. This initiative follows Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar's announcement last week that a special bill would be introduced in the next session of the state legislature to strengthen women's rights and recognition in the agricultural sector.
Committee Leadership and Composition
The committee is led by Parimal Singh, who serves as the project director of the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project in Mumbai. The team includes several key officials:
- Suraj Mandhare, Commissioner of Agriculture
- Shekhar Gaikwad, Additional Director General at Yashada
- Priya Khan, Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
This diverse group brings expertise from agricultural, administrative, and policy-making backgrounds to ensure a comprehensive approach to the bill's development.
Addressing Critical Issues in Agriculture
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar highlighted the pressing issues that the proposed law aims to resolve. Speaking at a seminar on women farmers' empowerment held at Vidhan Bhavan, she emphasized that the bill will tackle problems such as the exclusion of women's names from 7/12 land records and the lack of gender-based agricultural data. Pawar stated, "The government is committed to ensuring that women farmers receive their rightful recognition and respect. The proposed law will help resolve difficulties related to land records and improve documentation of women's contribution to agriculture."
Government Resolution and Committee Mandate
According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued on this matter, the seminar included discussions on preparing a comprehensive bill for the empowerment of women farmers in Maharashtra. The GR stated, "In the seminar, a discussion was held on the preparation of a comprehensive bill for the empowerment of women farmers in the state. Accordingly, the matter of constituting a committee to prepare a draft of the bill and submitting it to the government was under consideration."
The committee has been specifically tasked with creating a legal draft for the proposed comprehensive bill aimed at the overall empowerment of women farmers. The GR further outlines that during the drafting process, the committee will engage in discussions with experts from the agricultural and allied sectors, legal professionals, and other relevant stakeholders as needed.
Timeline and Submission Deadline
The committee is required to submit the draft of the bill to the government by April 7, 2026. This timeline allows for thorough research, consultation, and refinement to ensure the bill effectively addresses the unique challenges faced by women in agriculture.
This legislative effort represents a proactive move by the Maharashtra government to acknowledge and support the vital role women play in the state's agricultural economy, potentially setting a precedent for other regions to follow.
