The Jharkhand government on Monday tabled the second supplementary budget of Rs 7,721.25 crore for the financial year 2025–26 amid loud protests by the Opposition during the Winter Session of the Assembly.
Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore presented the budget during Zero Hour. At the same time, Opposition MLAs entered the Well of the House and raised slogans. They protested over delays in student scholarship payments and the State’s failure to procure paddy at the announced minimum support price (MSP).
Question Hour Washed Out Due to Protests
Continuous sloganeering disrupted the House from the start of the day. The uproar forced the Assembly to adjourn Question Hour without any business. Zero Hour and Calling Attention also continued amid noise.
The government had earlier passed the first supplementary budget of Rs 4,296.62 crore during the Monsoon Session.
Highest Allocation for Social Welfare
Budget documents show that the Women, Child Development and Social Security Department received the highest allocation of Rs 2,082.25 crore. Out of this, Rs 2,077 crore will go toward social security and welfare schemes.
Other major allocations include:
- Rural Works Department: Rs 1,324.82 crore
- Health Department: Rs 729 crore
- Disaster Management Division: Rs 526 crore
- Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department: Rs 500 crore
- Home Department: Rs 443 crore
These figures reflect the government’s focus on welfare, rural roads, health services, disaster response, environment, and law and order.
Opposition Attacks Government Over Paddy and Scholarships
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi demanded an immediate discussion on student scholarships and paddy procurement.
He alleged that farmers are forced to sell paddy to middlemen at Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per quintal. The government had announced an MSP of Rs 3,200 per quintal, he said. However, official procurement has not started properly.
Marandi also accused the government of ignoring notices raised during Zero Hour. After his statement, Opposition members intensified their protest and shouted slogans against the government.
Three-Hour Budget Discussion to Be Held Today
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister placed the decisions of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) before the House. The BAC met after the first day of the session on December 5. The House approved the proposal through voice vote.
The Speaker later announced that the Assembly will hold a three-hour discussion on the second supplementary budget on Tuesday, December 9.
