The steps below follow the Act. Applications go to the Designated Officer. The Gram Sabha, or the Nagar Panchayat, decides on each application.
- Confirm eligibility. Check age, residence in a Village Panchayat or Nagar Panchayat area, and farming work (Sections 2 and 3).
- Submit the application. Apply to the Designated Officer in the prescribed form and manner. Section 5(1) covers Village Panchayat areas and Section 6(1) covers Nagar Panchayat areas.
- Placed before the Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat. The Designated Officer places applications before the next regular or special Gram Sabha meeting, or the next ordinary Nagar Panchayat meeting (Sections 5(2) and 6(2)).
- Resolution. The Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat considers whether the applicant carries out at least one activity from clauses (a) and (d) of Section 2, then passes a resolution accepting or rejecting the application. A rejection must give written reasons (Sections 5(3) and 6(3)).
- Certificate, if accepted. The Designated Officer issues the Woman Farmer Certificate within 15 days of the resolution (Sections 5(4) and 6(4)).
- Written notice, if rejected. The Designated Officer informs the applicant in writing within 7 days. The notice gives the reasons, the appeal period and the details of the Appellate Officer (Sections 5(5) and 6(5)).
- Appeal. An appeal goes to the Appellate Officer within 120 days of the rejection resolution (Sections 5(6)(a) and 6(6)(a)).
- Appeal decision. The Appellate Officer hears the parties and decides with a reasoned order within 30 days of the appeal being filed (Sections 5(7) and 6(7)).
- Direction after appeal. If the Appellate Officer finds she is a woman farmer, the Designated Officer must issue the certificate within 15 days of the order (Sections 5(8) and 6(8)).
Other routes under the Act
Gram Sabha recognition without an application. The Gram Sabha may, by resolution, recognise a woman who is a farmer but did not apply, and direct the Designated Officer to issue her certificate (Section 5(3), second proviso).
Certificate not issued in time. If the certificate is not issued within 15 days of an accepting resolution, an appeal may be filed within 120 days after that period ends (Section 5(6)(b)).
Late appeal. The Appellate Officer may admit an appeal after the 120-day period if satisfied that sufficient cause prevented an earlier filing (Section 5(7), proviso).