RANCHI: Tension escalated in the Jharkhand Assembly on Friday during the budget session’s eighth day as the ruling coalition and opposition clashed fiercely over grant demands for rural development, rural works, and panchayati raj departments. Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh, responding to the debate, underscored the government’s unwavering focus on holistic village transformation. ‘Changing the fate and face of our villages is our core mission,’ she declared.
Highlighting the newly implemented PESA Act as a ‘protective shield’ for tribals, the minister emphasized empowering gram sabhas to safeguard water, forests, and land. Steps are underway to position gram sabhas as true village owners, allowing meetings in public buildings, closed schools, or community halls. She also announced priority for women in assistant secretary posts.
On MGNREGA—now rebranded as BVG Ramji—the minister revealed generating 10 crore man-days against a 12 crore target, vowing no lapse in employment guarantees. She accused the Centre of withholding thousands of crores in dues, including 15th Finance Commission funds. Under Abua Awas Yojana, 1.90 lakh houses stand complete, with detailed installment payments outlined, dismissing funding shortages.
Praising self-help groups, she noted 2.72 crore saplings planted by women’s collectives, boosting rural economies and ecology. BJP legislator Pradeep Prasad countered sharply, questioning expenditure pace. Claiming only Rs 367 crore spent from Rs 9,500 crore allocated last fiscal till January 2026, he slammed low utilization in rural works and panchayati raj.
‘If prior allocations aren’t exhausted, what’s the point of new budgets?’ Prasad quizzed, alleging corruption with raids uncovering cash and luxuries at officials’ premises. JMM’s Jairam Mahto urged bridging rural-urban spending gaps, pushing public feedback and transparency in road-bridge projects. Amit Yadav demanded completing pending BVG Ramji and GRMJ homes.
Congress’s Suresh Baitha and CPI(ML)’s Chandradev Mahto pressed PESA refinements, gram sabha strengthening, and timely scheme execution. While the government touted rural priorities and achievements, the opposition cornered it on spending, transparency, and delivery, marking a charged session end.