The second supplementary budget for the financial year 2025–26, amounting to Rs 7,721.25 crore, was tabled in the Jharkhand Assembly on the second day of its Winter Session on Monday amid continuous sloganeering by the Opposition.
Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore presented the budget during Zero Hour as Opposition members remained in the Well of the House raising slogans over alleged irregularities in student scholarship disbursals and non-procurement of paddy from farmers at the promised price.
The House witnessed repeated disruptions since Question Hour, which was washed out due to protests. Proceedings during Zero Hour and Calling Attention were also conducted amid sustained ruckus. The government had earlier passed the first supplementary budget of Rs 4,296.62 crore during the Monsoon Session.
According to the budget documents, the highest allocation has been made to the Women, Child Development and Social Security Department, which has been allotted Rs 2,082.25 crore. Of this, Rs 2,077 crore is proposed under social security and welfare schemes. The Rural Works Department follows with an allocation of Rs 1,324.82 crore. The Health Department has been allocated Rs 729 crore, the Disaster Management Division Rs 526 crore, the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Rs 500 crore, and the Home Department Rs 443 crore.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi demanded an immediate discussion on the issues of pending student scholarships and paddy procurement. He alleged that farmers were being forced to sell their produce to middlemen at Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per quintal as the government was not purchasing paddy at the announced minimum support price of Rs 3,200 per quintal.
Marandi also accused the government of not replying to notices raised during Zero Hour. Following his remarks, Opposition legislators entered the Well and intensified their protests.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister sought the House’s consent on decisions taken at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee held after the first day’s proceedings of the session on December 5. The proposal was passed by voice vote. The Speaker later announced that, as per the committee’s decision, a three-hour discussion on the second supplementary budget would be held on Tuesday, December 9.