Bihar: Budget of Rs 2.37 lakh crore presented; education, health get top priority

The government expects a growth rate of 7.9 per cent in 2022-23 financial year. No new tax has been imposed.

Among pet government schemes, the finance minister told the Bihar Legislative Assembly: “We have set apart Rs 700 crore for students credit card scheme, Rs 200 crore for self-help grant to youths seeking employment, Rs 1,110 crore on Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal scheme, Rs 225 crore for skilled youth programme. The six sutras of this budget are health, education, investment in agriculture, agriculture and thrust on strengthening rural-urban infrastructure”.

Prasad added that the government had invited investment of Rs 800 crore so far and would set up 151 ethanol units. He said though Bihar also had to suffer huge financial constraints due to three successive waves of the pandemic, it was still heartening to record the best growth rate among states. “A loan of Rs 1 lakh crore would be interest-free in 2022-23,” said the finance minister.

The state government said it had given given anti-Covid vaccine to eight crore people. The state recorded C:D ratio of 5.2 per cent. As per Economic Survey Report 2022-22, there had been 33.4 per cent increase in enrolment of scheduled caste children below eight years between 2012-13 and 2019-20.