The Bihar government presented its budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year on Tuesday, with a focus on social welfare, economic development, and job creation. Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary unveiled a budget of Rs 2.79 lakh crore, emphasizing investments in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Elaborating on Key Points of Bihar Budget 2024-25:
Education:
- Budget Allocation: Rs 52,639 crore, a significant increase compared to previous years.
- Dropout Reduction: Impressive decline in dropout rates at all levels (primary, secondary, higher secondary).
- School Upgradation: 66 SC schools and 21 ST residential schools upgraded to provide 10+2 education, improving access to higher education for disadvantaged communities.
- Student Credit Card: Rs 700 crore allocated to provide financial assistance to students for higher education, promoting affordability and access.
Health:
- Budget Allocation: Rs 14,932 crore, prioritizing healthcare infrastructure and services.
- Maternal Mortality Reduction: Significant decline in maternal mortality rate (47 points since 2015-17), indicating improved maternal healthcare.
- Institutional Deliveries: Increased institutional deliveries (56% compared to national average), highlighting progress towards safe childbirth practices.
Economic Growth & Job Creation:
- Agriculture Investment: Rs 1.28 lakh crore to be invested in agriculture and allied sectors by 2028, aiming to boost agricultural productivity and income.
- Bihar IT Policy 2024: Launched to attract investments in the IT sector, creating job opportunities and promoting technological advancements.
- Small Scale Entrepreneurship: Maximum grant of Rs 2 lakh for self-employment, encouraging entrepreneurship among economically weaker sections and generating income opportunities.
- Bihar Business Connect 2023: Attracted investments worth Rs 50,530 crore, indicating potential for further economic growth and job creation.
Poverty Reduction:
- 2.5 Crore Uplifted: Significant achievement in lifting 2.5 crore people out of poverty since 2023-24, demonstrating progress in poverty alleviation efforts.
- Multidimensional Poverty Index Reduction: Decline of 18.13% in multidimensional poverty index, showcasing improvement in various aspects of well-being beyond just income.
Other noteworthy points:
- Focus on Social Welfare: Budget allocations and initiatives indicate commitment to improving the lives of citizens in areas like education, health, sanitation, and social security.
- Emphasis on IT and Tourism: Investments in these sectors aim to boost economic growth and create new job opportunities.
- Improved Governance: Initiatives like caste-based survey and separate sports department reflect efforts towards better governance and policymaking.
Additional Points:
- The budget is Rs 16,840 crore more than the previous year.
- The government claims Bihar’s growth rate is 10.4%, the highest in the country.
- Rs 5,400 crore allocated for the implementation of “Saat Nishchay-2”, a set of seven development programs.
Overall, the Bihar Budget 2024-25 aims to improve the lives of its citizens through social welfare initiatives, boost economic growth, and create employment opportunities. The success of these plans will be crucial for the state’s continued development.