L. A. BILL No. XLVIII OF 2026.

A BILL

to provide for recognition of Women farmers and issuance of woman farmer

certificates, in order to enable their access to various welfare policies,

programmes, schemes and credit, to establish a Women Farmers database,

a Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers, a Women Farmers

Empowerment Cell, a Women Farmers Empowerment Council and State

Monitoring Committee, and for matters connected therewith or incidental

thereto.

WHEREAS a large number of women in rural areas in the State are

engaged in the agricultural sector;

AND WHEREAS in view of increasing women participation in agriculture,

recognition and empowerment of women farmers are essential for future growth

and sustainability of agriculture, for protection of food security in an era of

climate change and for the well-being of women farmers and their families;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for recognition of women

farmers and issuance of woman farmer certificates in order to enable their

RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123

महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र

असाधाारण भााग पाच-अ

वर्षष १२, अंंक २१ (२)]

बुुधवाार, जुुलैै १, २०२६/आषााढ १०, शकेे १९४८

[पृृष्ठेे 14, किं�ंमत : रुपयेे ३६.००

असाधाारण क्रमांं�क ४१

प्रााधि�कृृत प्रकााशन

महाारााष्ट्र वि�धाानसभेेत व महाारााष्ट्र वि�धाानपरि�षषदेेत सादर केेलेेली वि�धेेयकेे (इंंग्रजी अनुुवाद).

MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT

The following Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 1st July,

2026 is published under Rule 117 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules :—

भाग पाच-अ-४१–१

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

access to various welfare policies, programmes, schemes and credit, to establish

a Women Farmers Database, a Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers,

a Women Farmers Empowerment Cell, Women Farmers Empowerment

Council and State Monitoring Committee and for matters connected therewith

or incidental thereto; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of the

Republic of India as follows:-

1. This Act may be called the Maharashtra Women Farmers

Empowerment Act, 2026.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) “agriculture” includes all activities, whether for remuneration or

not, related to cultivation of crops, seed production, animal husbandry,

poultry, dairy farming, livestock rearing, apiculture, fodder cultivation,

bee-keeping, fishing, aquaculture, sericulture, vermiculture, horticulture,

floriculture, mushroom cultivation, agro-forestry, use of any land or part

thereof for grazing or rab-manure, all types of composting or any other

farming activity carried out through self-employment, tenurial cultivation,

share cropping, or other types of cultivation including shifting cultivation,

collection, use and sale of minor or non-timber forest produce by virtue of

ownership rights or usufructuary rights;

(b) “Appellate Officer” means an Appellate Officer, appointed by the

State Government under sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Act;

Government under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Act;

(d) “farmer” means, any woman who is a resident of Maharashtra and

who, individually or jointly with any other person, is,-

(i) engaged in agriculture, irrespective of the nature of the land ;

(ii) contributing to any type of innovation, conservation,

preservation or propagation of diverse agricultural varieties of seeds,

any type of farm animals and fish, cultivation methods for climate

resilience, practice of integrated farming system;

(iii) adding value to primary produce or raw agricultural and

animal produce by engaging in primary processing; and it includes,-

(A) an agricultural operational holder, lessee cultivator with

an oral or written contract or agreement, landless cultivator,

landless livestock rearer, agricultural labourer, plantation

labourer, pastoralist;

(B) women engaged in agriculture in the State for at least

one agricultural season in a year and migrating outside or within

the State for any purpose;

(e) “Gram Sabha” means,

(i) in respect of a Scheduled Area, the Gram Sabha as defined

under the rules made under the Panchayats (Extension to the

Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and

(ii) in respect of any area other than a Scheduled Area, the Gram

Sabha as defined in clause (9) of section 3 of the Maharashtra Village

Panchayats Act;

(f) “land” means land which is used, or capable of being used, for

purposes of agriculture, and includes,-

(i) sites of farm buildings on, or appurtenant to, such land;

(ii) land on which grass grows naturally;

Short title.

Definitions.

III of

1959.

40 of

1996.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(iii) trees and standing crops on such land;

(iv) canals, channels, wells, pipes, reservoirs or other works

constructed or maintained on such land for the supply or storage of

water for the purpose of agriculture; and

(v) drainage-works, embankments, bandharas or any other works

appurtenant to such land, or constructed or maintained thereon for

the purposes of agriculture; and all structures and permanent fixtures

on such land;

(g) “Fund” means the Maharashtra State Fund for Women Farmers

established under section 11;

(h) “Nagar Panchayat” means a Nagar Panchayat constituted under

the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial

Townships Act, 1965 ;

(i) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules under this Act;

(j) “primary processing” means converting raw produce or material

into forms suitable for consumption or for further processing;

(k) “single woman” means a woman who is above the age of 18 years

and whose husband has either died or is missing, who has been deserted

or judicially separated, a divorced or an unmarried woman;

(l) “State Monitoring Committee” means the State monitoring

committee constituted under section 13 of the Act;

(m) “Village Panchayat” means the Panchayat constituted under the

Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act;

(n) “woman farmer” means any woman who has attained the age of

eighteen years or above and who is a farmer;

(o) “Women Farmers Assistance Officers” means the Women Farmer

Assistance Officer appointed under section 15 of the Act;

(p) “Woman Farmer Certificate” means the certificate issued by the

Designated Officer to a woman under sections 5 and 6 of the Act;

(q) “Women Farmers Empowerment Cell” means the Women Farmers

Empowerment Cell established under section 14 of the Act;

(r) “Women Farmers Empowerment Council” or “Council” means the

Women Farmers Empowerment Council constituted under section 12 of

the Act;

(s) “Women Farmers Database” means the women farmer database

collected, and maintained under section 10 of the Act.

3. Every woman who has attained the age of eighteen years and residing

in the area of the Village Panchayat or Nagar Panchayat and who is a farmer

shall be eligible to be recognised as a woman farmer under this Act and may

be given a Woman Farmer Certificate for the purposes of this Act.

4. (1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,

designate such number of Designated Officers, who are not below the rank of

Assistant Agriculture Officer for Village Panchayat areas and who are not below

the rank of Agriculture Officer for Nagar Panchayat areas, as it thinks fit, to

discharge the duties and functions under this Act.

(2) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,

appoint such number of officers not below the rank of Taluka Agriculture

Officer, to be the Appellate Officers for such areas, as it thinks fit, to exercise

the powers and discharge the duties under this Act.

XL of

1965.

III of

1959.

Recognition

of Woman

Farmer.

Designated

Officers and

Appellate

Officers.

भाग पाच-अ-४१–२

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

5. (1) Any woman who is a farmer residing within the jurisdiction of the

Village Panchayat may make an application to the Designated Officer for being

recognised as Woman Farmer and for obtaining a Woman Farmer Certificate

in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The Designated Officer shall place all the applications received under

sub-section (1) before the Gram Sabha at the next regular meeting or at a

special meeting called for this purpose.

(3) The Gram Sabha shall, upon applications placed before it under sub-

section (2), after considering whether each applicant has been carrying out at

least one of the activities as referred to in clauses (a) and (d) of section 2 of the

Act, pass a resolution either accepting or rejecting such application:

Provided that, in case of rejection of any such application, the Gram Sabha

shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such rejection in the resolution:

Provided further that, the Gram Sabha may also, by resolution, suo

moto recognise those women within its jurisdiction who have not applied for

a Woman Farmer Certificate under sub-section (1), but who are farmers, as

women farmers and direct Designated Officer to issue them Woman Farmer

Certificates.

(4) Where the Gram Sabha, by its resolution under sub-section (3),

recognises any woman as a woman farmer, the Designated Officer shall, within

a period of fifteen days from the date of passing of such resolution, issue a

Woman Farmer Certificate, in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(5) Where the Gram Sabha, by its resolution under sub-section (3), refuses

to recognise an applicant as a woman farmer, the Designated Officer shall,

within a period of seven days from the passing of the resolution, inform the

applicant in writing,-

(a) the reasons for such rejection as specified in Gram Sabha

resolution;

(b) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may

be preferred; and

may be filed.

(6) Any person aggrieved by,-

(a) the resolution of the Gram Sabha rejecting an application to

recognise a woman as woman farmer under sub-section (3) may, within a

period of one-hundred and twenty days from the date of such resolution, or

(b) the failure of the Designated Officer to issue a Woman Farmer

Certificate within the time period specified under sub-section (4) may,

after the expiry of such period and within a period of one-hundred and

twenty days thereof,

may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Officer in such form and manner

as may be prescribed.

(7) The Appellate Officer shall, on receipt of an appeal, after giving the

parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, consider and dispose of

such appeal with a reasoned order, within a period of thirty days from the date

of its filing:

Provided that, the Appellate Officer may admit an appeal after the expiry

of the period of one-hundred and twenty days if he is satisfied that the appellant

was prevented by sufficient cause from filing an appeal within the said period.

Issuance

of Woman

Farmer

Certificate

in Village

Panchayat

area.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(8) Where the Appellate Officer, upon hearing the appeal, is of the opinion

that the appellant is a woman farmer then he shall direct the Designated Officer

to issue a Woman Farmer Certificate to the appellant within a period of fifteen

days from the date of order.

6. (1)

Any woman who is a farmer within the jurisdiction of the Nagar

Panchayat may make an application to the Designated Officer for being

recognised as a woman farmer and for obtaining a Woman Farmer Certificate,

in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The designated officer shall place all the applications received under

sub-section (1) before the Nagar Panchayat at its next ordinary meeting.

(3) The Nagar Panchayat shall, upon applications placed before it under

sub-section (2), after considering whether each applicant has been carrying out

at least one of the activities as referred to in clauses (a) and (d) of section 2 of

the Act, pass a resolution either accepting or rejecting such application:

Provided that in case of rejection of any such application, the Nagar

Panchayat shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such rejection in the

resolution.

(4) Where the Nagar Panchayat, by its resolution under sub-section (3),

recognises an applicant as a woman farmer, the Designated Officer shall,

within a period of fifteen days from the date of passing of such resolution, issue

a Woman Farmer Certificate, in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

(5) Where the Nagar Panchayat, by its resolution under sub-section (3),

refuses to recognise an applicant as a woman farmer, the Designated Officer

shall, within a period of seven days from the date of passing of the resolution,

inform the applicant in writing of,-

(a) the reasons for such rejection as specified in Nagar Panchayat

resolution;

(b) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be

preferred; and

may be filed.

(6) Any person aggrieved by,-

(a) the resolution of the Nagar Panchayat rejecting an application to

recognise a woman farmer under sub-section (3) may, within a period of

one-hundred and twenty days from the date of such resolution, or

(b) the failure of the designated officer to issue a Woman Farmer

Certificate within the time period specified under sub-section (4) may,

after the expiry of such period and within a period of one-hundred and

twenty days thereof,

may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Officer, in such form and manner

as may be prescribed.

(7) The Appellate Officer shall, on receipt of an appeal, after giving the

parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, consider and dispose of

such appeal with a reasoned order, within a period of thirty days from the date

of its filing:

Provided that, the Appellate Officer may admit an appeal after the expiry

of the period of one-hundred and twenty days if he is satisfied that the appellant

was prevented by sufficient cause from filing an appeal within the said period.

Issuance

of Woman

Farmer

Certificate

in Nagar

Panchayat

area.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(8) Where the Appellate Officer, upon hearing the appeal, is of the opinion

that the appellant is a woman farmer then he shall direct the Designated Officer

to issue a Woman Farmer Certificate to the appellant within a period of fifteen

days from the date of order.

7. The Woman Farmer Certificate shall be valid till the woman remains

a farmer. If a woman does not continue to be a farmer, then she shall not be

entitled to the benefits of such certificates under this Act and her certificate

shall be deemed to be ceased.

8. (1) A woman Farmer Certificate shall be conclusive proof for the

purpose of establishing the identity of a woman as a woman farmer for the

purposes of this Act.

(2) The Woman holding the Woman Farmer Certificate shall be entitled

to receive the entitlements, benefits, subsidies and services under the policies,

programmes and schemes notified by the State Government, from time to time,

subject to such conditions as may be specified therein.

(3) The State Government may formulate, from time to time, policies,

programmes and schemes for the welfare of women farmers and their groups

on matters relating to —

(a) agricultural subsidies;

(b) distribution of seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs;

(d) facilitation of market access, transportation, storage and

procurement of produce;

(e) special assistance programmes, skill development and targeted

support for single woman farmer ;

(f) any other matter as may be determined by the State Government.

9. The woman farmer holding the Woman Farmer Certificate shall be

entitled to suitable forms of credit under the credit policies, programmes, and

schemes of the State Government, notified by the State Government, from time

to time.

10. (1) The State Government shall collect and maintain the data of the

Women Farmers for the purposes of this Act, in the prescribed manner.

(2) The Women Farmers Database shall contain the information of every

woman farmer to whom a Woman Farmer Certificate has been issued under

this Act.

11. (1) The State Government shall constitute a Maharashtra State Fund

for Women Farmers and the following moneys shall be credited thereto :-

(a) any grant from the Central Government or State Government;

(b) any grants, donations, gifts, benefactions received from other

institutions and persons ; and

time to time.

(2) The Fund shall be under the control and management of the State

Government and be utilised for the following purposes:-

(a) to implement programs and provide assistance for the welfare and

development of women farmers;

Cessation

of Woman

Farmer

Certificate.

Utility of

Woman

Farmer

Certificate.

Access to

credit through

Woman

Farmer

certificate.

Establishment

of Women

Farmers

Database.

Maharashtra

State Fund

for Women

Farmers.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(b) financing measures for the empowerment of women farmers;

farmers; and

(d) such other matters as may be prescribed.

12. (1) The State Government shall by notification published in the

Official Gazette establish a Women Farmers Empowerment Council.

(2) The Women Farmers Empowerment Council shall consist of the

following ex-offico members, namely :-

(a) Chief Minister

Chairperson;

(b) Deputy Chief Ministers

Members;

Member;

(d) Minister for Women and Child

Member;

Development

(e) Minister for Rural Development

Member;

(f) Minister for Co-operation

Member;

(g) Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy

Member;

Development and Fisheries

(h) Minister for Finance

Member;

(i) Minister for Forests

Member;

(j) Minister for Revenue

Member;

(k) Minister for Urban Development

Member;

(l) Minister of State for Agriculture

Member;

(m) Secretary, Agriculture Department

Member-Secretary.

(3) The Women Farmers Empowerment Council shall meet at least once

in a year and may also meet, as and when, required.

(4) The Women Farmers Empowerment Council shall exercise and perform

the following powers and functions, namely:-

(a) to provide overall policy direction for the implementation of the Act;

(b) to review the status of women farmers in Maharashtra and

recommend policy reforms;

women farmers;

(d) to approve strategies for enhancing women farmers access to credit,

markets, insurance, technology, and extension services.

13. (1) The State Government shall constitute a State Monitoring

Committee to monitor the implementation of this Act.

(2) The State Monitoring Committee shall consist of the following

members, namely :-

(a) Chief Secretary

Chairperson;

(b) Secretary, Agriculture Department

Member;

(d) Secretary, Women and Child

Member;

Development Department

Establishment

of Women

Farmers

Empowerment

Council.

Establishment

of State

Monitoring

Committee.

भाग पाच-अ-४१–३

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(e) Secretary, Rural Development Department Member;

(f) Secretary, Forest Department

Member;

(g) Secretary, Revenue Department

Member;

(h) Secretary, Urban Development

Member;

Department

(i) Secretary, Co-operation Department

Member;

(j) Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy

Member;

Development and Fisheries Department

(k) Commissioner of Agriculture

Member-Secretary.

(3) The Committee may invite experts in the field of agriculture, markets,

banking, water conservation, gender studies, law, economics, and related fields

to its meetings for its assistance or advice.

(4) The Committee shall meet not less than twice in a year, and a period of

not more than six months shall intervene between two successive meetings and

shall observe such rules of procedure in its meetings as it may determine.

(5) The Committee shall, for the purposes of this Act, have the following

duties and functions, namely-

(a) to develop indicators and benchmarks for monitoring implementation

of the Act;

(b) to monitor the process of recognition and certification renewal of

Woman Farmer Certificates;

insurance, and services under various State and Central Government

schemes; and

(d) to examine grievances, bottlenecks, and delays in implementation

and recommend corrective measures.

14. (1) The State Government shall establish a Women Farmers

Empowerment Cell to implement the provisions of this Act.

(2) The Women Farmers Empowerment Cell shall consist of the following

ex-offico members, namely :-

(a)

Secretary, Agriculture Department

Chairperson;

(b)

Commissioner of Agriculture

Member;

(c)

Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department

Member;

(d)

Directors under Agriculture Department

Members;

(e)

Director of Agriculture (Extension and Training) Member-

Secretary.

(3) The Women Farmers Empowerment Cell may invite experts in the

field of agriculture, markets, banking, water, gender studies, law, economics,

and related fields to its meetings for their assistance or advice.

(4) The duties and functions of the Women Farmers Empowerment Cell

are as follows:-

(a) to perform as a nodal agency for implementation of the provisions

of the Act;

(b) to coordinate with all concerned Departments for delivery of

benefits and services to women farmers;

Establishment

of Women

Farmers

Empowerment

Cell.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

Farmers Empowerment Council and State Monitoring Committee;

(d) to prepare policy, analytical reports, and recommendations for the

State Government on implementation of the provisions of the Act;

(e) to conduct periodic studies and undertake situational analysis for

women farmers;

(f) to promote gender-responsive agricultural technologies,

mechanization and innovation;

(g) to coordinate with research institutions, universities, financial

institutions, farmer producer organizations, self-help groups, and non-

governmental organizations;

(h) to prepare annual reports on the implementation of the Act and

submit it to the State Government.

15. (1) The State Government shall, by general or special order designate,-

(a) an officer not below the rank of Agriculture Officer, as Women

Farmers Assistance Officer, at Block level, and

(b) an officer not below the rank of Deputy Director of Agriculture, as

Women Farmers Assistance Officer, at District level.

(2) The Women Farmers Assistance Officer shall perform the following

duties and functions, namely:-

(a) to assist women farmers in obtaining the Woman Farmer

Certificates ;

(b) to assist the Gram Sabhas and Nagar Panchayats in recognising

women farmers and issuing the Woman Farmer Certificates;

in relation to their entitlements under this Act; and

(d) to assist the State Government to carry out gender-responsive

extension services.

16. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any

officer or employee of the State Government or any member of the Women

Farmers Empowerment Cell for anything done or purported to have been

done in good faith, in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or rules made

thereunder.

17. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act shall

be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of any other law for

the time being in force.

18. (1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette,

make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing

power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-

(a) the form and manner in which an application may be submitted by

a woman farmer to the Designated Officer under sub-section (1) of section 5;

(b) the form and manner in which the Designated Officer shall issue

the Woman Farmer Certificate under sub-section (4) of section 5;

Appellate Officer under sub-section (6) of section 5;

Women

Farmers

Assistance

Officers.

Protection of

action taken

in good faith.

Act not in

derogation of

any other law.

Power to

make rules.

भाग पाच-अ-४१–३अ

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

(d) the form and manner in which an application may be submitted by

a woman farmer to the Designated Officer under sub-section (1) of section 6;

(e) the form and manner in which the designated officer shall issue

the Woman Farmer Certificate under sub-section (4) of section 6;

(f) the form and manner in which an appeal may be preferred to the

Appellate Officer under sub-section (6) of section 6;

(g) manner in which the Women Farmers Database is to be collected

and maintained under sub-section (1) of section 10;

(h) such other matters for which the State Fund shall be utilised under

clause (d) of sub-section (2) of section 11.

(i) for any other matter for which rules are required to be made under

this Act.

(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after

it is made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for

a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two

or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session in which it

is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making

any modification in any rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be

made, and notify their decision to that effect in the Official Gazette, the rule

shall, from the date of publication of notification of such decision have effect only

in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that

any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity

of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

19. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act,

the State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make

such provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to

it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:

Provided that, no such order shall be made under this sub-section after

the expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may

be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature.

Power to

remove

difficulties.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in articles 39 and 43

of the Constitution of India require the State to secure adequate means of

livelihood for all citizens, promote social and economic justice and direct its

policies towards an equitable and gender-sensitive distribution of resources

and opportunities.

2. The agricultural policies, schemes, and extension systems are largely

gender-neutral. However, the requirement of land ownership as a precondition

for access to most agricultural schemes and underlying entitlements has

rendered such schemes inaccessible to many women farmers, since only a very

small percentage of these women own agricultural land. As such, women who

cultivate family or community land without holding formal titles to the land

are often counted as agricultural labourers rather than farmers. Similarly,

women who are engaged in allied non-cultivation-based activities such as

fishing, collection of minor forest produce, poultry, animal husbandry, etc.,

are also not recognised as farmers. This systemic non-recognition of women

farmers and their agricultural labour is significant and leads to other forms

of exclusion, including, but not limited to discrimination in access to schemes,

credit and markets.

3. The Government, therefore, considers it expedient to enact a new

law to recognise women who are engaged in agriculture and allied activities

as a woman farmer and to provide them Woman Farmer Certificate which

enables their access to entitlements, benefits, subsidies, services and credit.

The proposed law also provides to establish a Women Farmer Empowerment

Council and Cell, State Monitoring Committee, Women Farmers Fund and to

collect and maintain their Database and matters connected therewith.

4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.

DATTATRAYA BHARANE,

Mumbai,

Minister for Agriculture.

Dated the 30th June, 2026.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

The Bill involves the following proposals for delegation of legislative

powers, namely :-

Clause 4.- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government,-

(a) under sub-clause (1), to designate by notification in the Official

Gazette an Officer as Designated Officer not below the rank of,-

(i) Assistant Agriculture officer for the area of Village Panchayat;

and

(ii) Agriculture Officer for areas of Nagar Panchayat.

(b) under sub-clause (2) to appoint such number of officers not below

the rank of Taluka Agriculture Officer to be the Appellate Officers for such

areas as it thinks fit, by notification in the Official Gazette.

Clause 5.- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government, -

(a) under sub-clause (1) to prescribe by rules the form and manner

for making application to obtain Woman Farmer Certificate with the area

of the Village Panchayat;

(b) under sub-clause (4) to prescribe by rules the form and manner

for issuing a Woman Farmer Certificate;

prefer an appeal to the Appellate Officer.

Clause 6.- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government, -

(a) under sub-clause (1) to prescribe by rules the form and manner

for making application to obtain Woman Farmer Certificate with the area

of the Nagar Panchayat;

(b) under sub-clause (4) to prescribe by rules the form and manner

for issuing a Woman Farmer Certificate;

prefer an appeal to the Appellate Officer.

Clause 8(2).- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government, to

notify the policies, programmes and schemes to which woman farmer certificate

holder are entitled.

Clause 10(1).- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government

to prescribe the manner for collection and maintenance of the Women Farmers

Database.

Clause 11.— Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government,—

(a) under sub-clause (1) (c) to notify any other sums that shall be

credited to the Maharashtra State fund for Women Farmers;

(b) under sub-clause (2) (d) to prescribe by rules any other matter to

utilisation of Maharashtra State fund for Women Farmers.

Clause 12(1).- Under this clause, power is taken to the State

Government to establish by notification in the Official Gazette a Women

Farmers’ Empowerment Council.

Clause 18 (1).- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government

to make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act, by issuing a notification in

the Official Gazette.

Clause 19 (1).- Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government

to issue an order in the Official Gazette for removing any difficulty, which may

arise in giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

2. The above-mentioned proposals for delegation of legislative powers

are of normal character.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

Clause 11 of the Bill provides for the constitution of a Maharashtra

State Fund for Women Farmers. The said Fund shall be utilised for providing

assistance for the welfare and development of women farmers, financing

measures for the empowerment of women farmers, providing facilities to support

and enhance the welfare of women farmers, and such other matters as may be

prescribed. The grants from the Central Government or State Government, as

well as donations and other sources of funding, shall be credited to the said fund.

The Bill on its enactment as an Act of the State Legislature would involve

recurring expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State towards the

grants made by the State Government in the Maharashtra State Fund for

Women Farmers. However, it is not possible at this stage to give an estimate

of actual recurring expenditure that may have to be incurred in this behalf.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जुलै १, २०२६/आषषाढ १०, शके १९४८

GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATION UNDER ARTICLE 207 OF THE

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

(Copy of Government of Maharashtra Order, Law and Judiciary Department)

In exercise of the power conferred upon him by clause (3) of Article 207 of

the Constitution of India, the Governor of Maharashtra is pleased to recommend

to both Houses of the State Legislature, the Consideration of the Maharashtra

Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026.

Vidhan Bhavan :

JITENDRA BHOLE,

Mumbai,

Secretary -1,

Dated the 1st July, 2026.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,

PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED

AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI

ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR.