Suneetra Pawar Highlights Historic Justice for Female Cultivators in Maharashtra

Deputy Chief Minister Suneetra Ajit Pawar used Thursday’s assembly debate to portray the "Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill‑2026" as a long‑awaited justice for the state’s female cultivators. She described the legislation as more than a statute—it is a recognition of the dignity, labor and rights of women who sustain Maharashtra’s agrarian economy.

Recalling her personal experience growing up in a farmer’s household, Pawar described how women manage sowing, livestock, dairy, poultry, fisheries and post‑harvest processing alongside men, yet have never been formally identified as "farmers" in official records.

The bill introduces a Women Farmer Certificate that will be awarded based on actual farm participation, sidestepping the traditional requirement of land ownership. This will unlock access to state‑run agricultural schemes, training programmes, crop insurance, institutional financing, market avenues, skill development and entrepreneurship support.

A robust institutional mechanism will accompany the bill, comprising a dedicated women‑farmer database, an empowerment cell, special assistance officers, a state‑level oversight committee and a dedicated fund. Pawar assured members that the legislation does not amend any existing land‑ownership or succession laws; it solely seeks institutional acknowledgment of women’s contributions.