Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday, March 3 presented an optimistic picture of Bihar’s growth, crediting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Modi for the state’s progress. Choudhary asserted that Bihar has transformed under their leadership, moving away from the “ruin” left behind by Lalu-Rabri Devi’s regime.
The latest budget, a whopping Rs 3.17 lakh crore, is a testament to this growth, marking a significant increase from the previous budget of Rs 2.79 lakh crore. This budgetary boost is expected to drive infrastructure development, social welfare initiatives, and human development programs in the state.
“Lalu-Rabri Devi had ruined Bihar. Bihar is now moving towards prosperity under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar and under the guidance of PM Modi. The budget of Rs 23,000 crores has now become Rs 3.17 lakh crore under the leadership of Nitish Kumar…and he is empowering 1.31 crore women by constituting Jivika Nidhi,” said Choudhary.
Highlighting the Centre’s role in Bihar’s growth, Choudhary said, “The central government is helping Bihar, and that’s the reason I have brought a budget of Rs 3,17,000 cr. CM Nitish Kumar is getting cooperation from a double-engine government. He is the guardian, father figure, and he blessed us.”
However, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav lambasted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state, criticising the budget presented by the double-engine government to be “hollow”.
He said the budget did not address deterring migration from the state, education, or employment. Yadav added that the government did not fulfil the demand to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women in the state.
“Old things are being repeated, and it will have no impact on the people of Bihar. We had demanded under ‘Mai Bahin Maan Yojana’ that women should be given Rs 2,500 per month. However, the same has not been fulfilled. There was nothing about industry, preventing migration, education or farmers. It was a hollow budget,” the former Deputy CM said.
Meanwhile, echoing Choudhary views, Union Minister Nityanand Rai that the State Budget presented in the Bihar Legislative Assembly has focused on education and the welfare of women, the poor, and the youth.
He highlighted that the Budget will provide employment and empowers women in the state.
“This is a very good budget. Emphasis has been laid on education, women welfare, poor welfare, youth welfare… Today, by presenting a budget of Rs 3 lakh 17 thousand crore, the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar has set a wonderful example. This is a budget that provides employment. This is a budget that empowers women,” Rai told reporters here.
Bihar’s government on Monday unveiled a whopping Rs 3.17 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2025-26, marking a significant 13.6 per cent increase from the previous year’s Rs 2.79 lakh crore allocation.
This budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary, holds special significance as it’s the ruling government’s last budget before the state elections later this year.
The substantial hike in budget allocation is expected to bolster various sectors, including infrastructure development, social welfare, human development, and administrative purposes.
(With inputs from ANI)
