No shortage of money in govt coffers: Minister

Patna: Moving the Appropriation Bill, pertaining to the annual budget worth Rs3.47 lakh crore for the 2026-27 fiscal in the assembly on Monday, finance minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav informed the House that there is no shortage of money in the state’s coffers, and the state’s development activities would be further accelerated.“A baseless claim is being made that there is no money with the govt. It is the work of the opposition, who make such claims during the budget session, and they do not say anything other than that. But, I am informing the House that there is no shortage of money or the fund to run the govt and carry out the development activities,” Yadav said, adding, “The accelerated development would make Bihar a developed state by 2030.”“The 2026-27 budget has earmarked money both against the heads of committed expenditure (payment of salaries and pension dues) and scheme (plan) expenditure. The capital expenditure for the creation of assets, too, has increased,” he said, adding that the fiscal deficit at 2.99% is well within the mandatory 3% under the fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) Act, and if required, the money would be pooled in through the routine exercise of supplementary budgets.While the opposition members had staged walkouts during the govt’s replies to the House debates on the budgetary demands of various departments, they were present during Yadav’s reply to the House. Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, too, was present during the debate.The House passed the Appropriation Bill for the 2026-27 fiscal by voice vote.Referring to the opposition’s charge that the payment of Rs10,000 each to 1.81 crore women under the Mahila Rojgar Yojana, along with the commitment to provide additional assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh after reviewing their activities, has emptied the state’s coffers, he said the allegation was misplaced.“The charge is baseless and has no sound basis,” Yadav said.He said the govt has decided to make investments in the education, health and agriculture sectors, as well as in such activities that would create jobs. He stressed that the govt would double the income of people and also create job and work opportunities for one crore youth over the next five years.