Jharkhand News : On the third day of the winter session of the Jharkhand Assembly, the house passed a supplementary budget of Rs 7,721.25 crore by voice vote. As Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore began his reply in the house, the BJP staged a walkout.
The Finance Minister stated that from April 1 to November 30, revenue collection stood at Rs 67,696.37 crore, out of which Rs 66,871 crore has been spent, accounting for 98.8% of the total expenditure.
The target for state taxes was Rs 41,600 crore, out of which Rs 23,897 crore had been collected by November 30. For state tax recovery of Rs 19,456 crore, Rs 8,565.63 crore has been received. The state is working to strengthen internal resources and plans to mobilize additional revenue.
Rs 28,863.64 Crore Pending from the Centre
The Finance Minister said that as of November 30, the state had received only Rs 30,971 crore out of its Rs 47,040 crore share of central taxes. Similarly, out of Rs 17,057 crore in central grants, only Rs 4,261.70 crore has been received. Thus, Rs 28,863.64 crore is yet to be received from the Centre.
Gas Cylinders Could Have Been Provided at Rs 450
The Finance Minister said that if the Centre had released the funds, gas cylinders could have been provided at Rs 450 each. Under the Ujjwala Gas Scheme, there are 6.5 million beneficiaries. Supplying cylinders to these beneficiaries over 12 months would cost Rs 2,100 crore annually.
He further criticized the Centre for discriminatory treatment, noting that Jharkhand does not have a BJP government. Funds for the Jal Jeevan Mission (Rs 6,300 crore), Social Welfare (Rs 890 crore), and pensions (Rs 132 crore) have not been released by the Centre.
No Department Faces Shortage
The Finance Minister asserted that no department is facing a shortage of funds. The state’s FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limit is 2.2%, below the 3% threshold. The government is developing internal resources and plans to borrow Rs 16,800 crore for state development. The Maan-Dhan Samman scheme has a budget of Rs 13,500 crore, and an additional Rs 78,000 crore is allocated for general schemes. Salaries for government employees were paid on November 30.
He emphasized that the government is committed to law and order. People involved in corruption are behind bars under the Hemant Soren government. The administration aims to strengthen public systems and policing. While Naxal activity has reduced, it has not been completely eradicated. The central government has stopped the SDR fund, but Naxal-related crimes have decreased over the past two years.
