The Maharashtra government plans to table the Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, during the upcoming Monsoon Session to strengthen legal recognition and institutional support for women engaged in agriculture.

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• The Maharashtra government will introduce the Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026 during the Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session beginning on 22 June, aiming to improve the status of women in agriculture.
• The proposed legislation seeks to provide women farmers with independent legal recognition, enabling them to be officially acknowledged as farmers in their own right.
• The Bill is expected to enhance women’s access to government welfare schemes, institutional assistance, financial support, and agricultural development programmes through a stronger legal framework.
• A preliminary presentation on the draft legislation was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with senior members of the State government.
• The review meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, and Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal.
• The proposed measure aims to reduce long-standing barriers faced by women involved in farming by improving their eligibility for official benefits and policy support mechanisms.
• Legal recognition under the Bill could strengthen women’s participation in agricultural decision-making, institutional credit systems, and government-backed rural development initiatives.
• If enacted, the legislation would represent a significant policy initiative focused on promoting gender inclusion, economic empowerment, and greater institutional recognition within Maharashtra’s agricultural sector.