Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has completed four years of his parliamentary tenure, during which he effectively raised key issues concerning Punjab and contributed to assisting Indian citizens stranded abroad, particularly Punjabis.
Private Member's Bill on Election Promises
Sant Seechewal's Private Member's Bill seeking a legal guarantee for election promises has emerged as an important initiative aimed at strengthening public confidence in democracy and the electoral system. The Bill was appreciated by President Droupadi Murmu and has been recommended for discussion during parliamentary proceedings.
Assistance to Stranded Indians
Sant Seechewal played a remarkable role in assisting Indians stranded overseas. Through his persistent efforts, 160 Indian women stranded in Gulf countries and several other nations were safely repatriated. Additionally, he facilitated the safe return of 87 Punjabi youths stranded abroad. He also played a vital role in bringing back the mortal remains of 62 Punjabis who had died overseas, ensuring that their families did not bear any financial burden. In this regard, he has been at the forefront among Members of Parliament from Punjab.
Infrastructure and Education Initiatives
As a result of his continuous demands in Parliament, stalled projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Punjab received fresh approval. Under this initiative, 64 roads and 38 bridges, worth approximately Rs 835 crore, are being constructed across the state. During Zero Hour, he also strongly advocated making Environmental Education a compulsory subject in schools, similar to other core subjects, and called for the introduction of Basic Life Support (BLS) training in educational institutions. His demand received widespread attention, following which the Central Government promptly decided to implement BLS training in schools.
Consistent Advocacy on Key Issues
Throughout his parliamentary tenure, Sant Seechewal consistently raised issues related to agriculture, water conservation, environmental protection, the Punjabi language, youth welfare, and the concerns of the Punjabi diaspora in the Rajya Sabha. He repeatedly highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and the need for environmental conservation on the floor of Parliament.
Parliamentary Performance
Over the past four years, he has raised 268 questions in the Rajya Sabha. He also strongly highlighted the issue of alleged bias in the selection of parliamentary questions by writing to the then Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar. Through Zero Hour interventions, he regularly raised matters of public importance. He was also among the first Members of Parliament to demand a stringent law to prevent incidents of sacrilege through a Special Mention in the Rajya Sabha.
Transparent Use of MPLADS Fund
Sant Seechewal has set an example in the transparent and public-oriented utilisation of the MPLADS fund. He has sanctioned funds for more than 300 development projects. Additionally, over 250 water storage tanks have already been provided across Punjab, while the approval and distribution of an equal number of additional tanks are currently under process.
