He noted that existing schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana focus primarily on crop loss.

Farmer Safety and NRI Talent: MP Satnam Singh Sandhu’s New Bills Target Rural and Global Indians

Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu introduced three significant Private Member's Bills on Monday, aiming to provide universal accidental insurance for farmers and to harness the talent of the Indian diaspora for national growth. According to the report, the bills were presented during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament to address critical gaps in agricultural safety and global educational standards.

The ‘Kisan Jeevan Suraksha evam Durghatna Pratipurti Vidheyak Bill, 2025’, seeks the creation of a National Agricultural Risk Insurance Authority. Sandhu informed the House that while agriculture employs nearly 46 per cent of the population, it remains hazardous, with 10,000 to 15,000 fatalities recorded annually. He noted that existing schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana focus primarily on crop loss rather than the specific occupational risks faced by farmers.

Additionally, the MP introduced the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Kaushal evam Pratibha Prerak Vidheyak Bill, 2025’, which proposes a statutory body to engage the Indian diaspora in the ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’ vision. 

Sandhu’s third bill, “National Ranking and Accreditation Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2025”, seeks to establish the National Ranking and Accreditation Authority (NRAA). He argued that India needs a statutory framework to rank its higher education institutions. This would bring Indian systems in line with international rankings, ensuring our universities are recognised as world-class by 2047.

Source: The Tribune