For Chouhan,social schemes top priority

He said the per capita income was 14,306 in 2003-04 which rose to Rs 27,250 in 2009-10.

Finance Minister Raghavji presented Rs 65,845-crore Budget in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Thursday,saying that for the first time more than half of that amount will be spent on the poor.

The Budget for 2011-2012,Raghavjis eighth exercise since the BJP came to power in 2003,is an increase of 28 per cent over the last Budget of 2010-11. He said the per capita income was 14,306 in 2003-04 which rose to Rs 27,250 in 2009-10.

Social sector schemes that played a big role in the BJP retaining power in 2008 have got a special attention in his latest Budget.

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The allocation for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans pet scheme,Ladli Laxmi Yojana,will increase by more than 45 per cent to Rs 439 crore.

The scheme of free bicycles to girl students has been extended to boys. Like the girls,the boys too will get to ride to schools once they go to Classes VI and IX. An allocation for Rs 125 crore has been made for the free bicycle scheme. The minister said the enrollment of girls had increased since the scheme was introduced.

The allocation for agriculture and related activities has gone up to Rs 5,075 crore,which is 32 per cent more than the previous year when it was Rs 3,848 crore. Increasing allocation for education by 49 per cent over the last year,the Budget earmarked Rs 10,043 crore. The Budget makes a provision for Rs 5,169 crore to be spent on the energy sector in 2011-12.

State Congress chief Suresh Pachauri said that the Budget has ignored SC/ST and minorities.