India has made significant strides in empowering women over the past few decades, starting with self-help groups (SHGs) that became powerful vehicles for social inclusion. Government and NGO efforts later expanded to skilling and livelihood initiatives, helping women increase their income and build small businesses within their communities. Yet, despite this progress, the urgent need remains for a long-term, sustainable solution to women's empowerment. This solution should not only uplift women economically but also root them in their communities, enabling them to build non-migratory livelihoods for lasting change.
In rural areas, women are at the heart of most nature-based livelihoods, yet their contributions are primarily as labourers, not decision-makers or landowners. Given that they make up 40% - 70% of the workforce in these sectors, there is a clear opportunity to rethink the relationship between women, nature, and empowerment, and to elevate them from workers to leaders.
Although there has been a growing focus on working with women farmers, most efforts have centred around income generation, often overlooking the critical elements of decision-making, asset and wealth creation, and the social agency of women. To truly empower rural women, it is essential to move beyond income-based interventions and focus on giving them the ownership and authority that comes with land and resource control, enabling them to build long-term security and influence.
This is where land rights for women can be a gamechanger.
Women’s land rights have the power to catalyse transformative change, impacting economic empowerment, social dignity, and even political agency.
Funders and policymakers must recognise this untapped potential and invest in programmes that secure land for women in India, driving both gender equality and broader societal benefits. Tenure security and ownership not only bring financial security, but also enable women to make long-term decisions for themselves and their families, further solidifying their role as leaders in their communities.
Take the case of Sevati Bai, a farmer from Chhattisgarh. Once a landless labourer, Sevati's life took a turn when she attended an awareness camp by Womanity’s partner Lok Astha Sewa Sansthan. Empowered to report domestic violence, she also fought to secure a legal title to her family's land. Despite challenges, she persisted and eventually gained joint ownership of their 2-acre plot, which elevated her status from labourer to a recognised woman farmer in the eyes of the community. Thanks to her land title, she was able to access government schemes, secure loans, and improve her family's livelihood. She also helped establish an SHG through whom she secured a loan to build a new home and rose to the position of leader, representing her village in a district-level women’s rights federation. Sevati's victory has had far-reaching implications. She fought for the elderly to be included in pension schemes, supported women facing domestic violence, and earned the title of 'gaon ki vakil' (the village lawyer).
Today, Sevati is not only a successful farmer but also a leader, representing women’s rights in her village, fighting for social justice, and transforming her community as an agent of change.
As we can see from the story of Sevati Bai, when women own land, the ripple effects extend far beyond their individual empowerment.
Economically, land ownership enables women to generate income independently. This financial stability not only improves their own lives but also has a transformative effect on their families and communities.
- Economic empowerment and financial security
Land is a valuable asset that allows women to generate income, secure loans, and pass on wealth. Many women we support reported that owning land allowed them to contribute to their family’s economic stability, often serving as a buffer in times of financial hardship. It also gave them better access to government schemes for agriculture and housing, benefiting the entire family.
- Improved food security
Studies show that women tend to prioritise food security when they control and manage land. They prioritise growing millets and native vegetables unlike male landowners, who often focus on cash crops like cotton and rice. This is especially important in marginalised and indigenous communities, like those of tribal forest dwellers, where food security is a major concern, and women play a key role by gathering mushrooms, fruits, berries, and leafy vegetables. Empowering women with access to and control over land can directly lead to improved nutrition and food security within these vulnerable groups.
- Source of identity and dignity
In our interactions with women, we find they have a deep, more intrinsic connection to land, valuing it not just for its economic benefits but also as a source of identity and social dignity. This bond is tied to their sense of belonging, self-worth, and stability within their communities. Land empowers them to assert their rights, provide for their families, and participate more fully in societal governance, transforming it into a powerful tool for dignity far beyond its economic value.
“My family owns 15 acres of land, and previously, I would occasionally go to help with weeding or supervise. Now I understand that land is a family asset and that women's contributions are crucial in decision-making. So, I have decided to take half an acre of land for myself, where I will make all the decisions.”
— Sangeeta Choudhary, Bhendala village, Nagpur, Maharashtra
Engaging men is key to maximising the impact of women's land ownership.
Involving men in land rights initiatives is crucial for achieving lasting change, especially given the large-scale migration of men to cities in search of jobs, leaving women behind to manage the land. Without their participation, efforts to secure land for women may face resistance and have only short-term impact. Raising men’s awareness of the economic benefits for the entire family is key. When men see the tangible outcomes of women’s land ownership—such as increased household income, improved agricultural yields, and enhanced food security—they are more likely to support these initiatives.
At the heart of this issue, are entrenched gender norms. It is important to shift the perception that granting land rights to women diminishes men’s status. Instead, it should be positioned as an opportunity for shared decision-making that enhances family-wide economic growth. When women control land, they often prioritise climate-friendly practices and long-term investments in education, health, and family well-being. Programmes that engage men not only promote these shared benefits but also help reshape gender norms to foster greater equality and sustainable progress.
The Way Forward: Why Funders Must Act Now
Despite evidence supporting the economic and social benefits of women’s land ownership, the road to securing these rights remains fraught with challenges. Societal norms, bureaucratic hurdles, and a lack of awareness among both women and men in the communities as well as the larger ecosystem are significant barriers. However, with sustained investment and commitment from funders, these challenges can be overcome.
- Strategic investment in land for women
Funders have a unique opportunity to drive systemic change by supporting programmes that secure land rights for women — whether through agricultural, forest, or common lands, or by helping landless families secure property in women’s names through government initiatives. These efforts must go beyond ownership, providing women with the tools and resources to manage their land and benefit from increased income, improved nutrition, and long-term sustainability.
- Incorporating some element of land in their existing women’s programs
Land access and ownership gives women the tools to improve food security, adapt to climate change, and preserve their local ecosystems. For funders and organisations already working on issues like organic farming, rural livelihoods, or climate resilience, investing in women’s land rights is a logical next step that can significantly enhance the impact of their existing programmes.
- Supporting policy advocacy and legal reform
Investing in advocacy efforts to strengthen legal frameworks around women’s land rights is crucial. While India already has laws in place, such as those protecting women’s inheritance rights and promoting joint titling, implementation at the local level remains inconsistent. Funders can support initiatives that ensure these laws are effectively enforced, enabling women to secure and exercise their land rights within their communities.
- Awareness creation at scale
Creating awareness and initiating conversations about women’s land rights with men, women, and the broader community is the first step to shifts in mindsets and behaviours.Grassroots initiatives like Womanity’s ‘Apni Zameen, Apni Awaaz’ and ‘Meri Zameen, Meri Pehchaan’ campaigns have successfully engaged thousands of women and men, informing them about land rights and fostering discussions. Expanding and scaling these awareness-driven models across more regions will significantly accelerate progress.
Prioritising these initiatives can help catalyse a ripple effect that will uplift entire communities in more ways than one.
Investing in women’s land rights is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in economic development and gender equality.