A budget of Rs 3.17 lakh crore was presented to the legislature by the Nitish Kumar administration in Bihar on Monday. This is the last budget before the state’s elections later this year.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who oversees the finance portfolio, presented the budget to the House on the assembly floor. He explained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “margdarshan” (guidance) and the chief minister’s “netritva” (leadership) were the inspiration behind the budget, which was “Rs 38,169 crore more than the last fiscal.”

The state’s populace has given the administration a great deal of support in its efforts to realize the prime minister’s vision of a “viksit Bihar,” which requires a “samriddh Bihar.”

The two main tenets of the budget have been the CM’s mantra, “nyay ke saath vikas,” and Modi’s vision, “sabka saath, sabka vikas aur sabka prayas.” In what seemed to be a jab at the opposition RJD-Congress alliance, the senior BJP leader said, “We are moving forward, putting years of chaos behind us.”

Regarding the budgeted allotments for various sectors, Choudhary said that Rs 60,964 crore had been allocated for education, which is vital given the state’s high population and comparatively youthful demographics.

According to him, the home department, which is in charge of maintaining peace and order and whose development has been the most talked-about accomplishment of the NDA administration, would get Rs 17,831 crore, while the health sector will receive Rs 20,335 crore.

Along with “pink toilets” in every district and “pink buses” in major towns, the budget has suggested establishing a “mahila haat” (women’s bazaar) in Patna as part of the government’s efforts to empower women.

In addition, Choudhary suggested that “Kanya Vivah Mandaps” be established in every panchayat to meet the requirements of low-income rural households with daughters who are old enough to be married.

According to him, “the airport at Purnea will become operational in three months from now,” and Bihar will construct “greenfield airports” in Sultanganj and Raxaul in the districts of Bhagalpur and East Champaran, respectively.

A specialized cancer hospital has been suggested for the Begusarai area in an effort to improve the state’s healthcare system.

The government’s determination to make property registration “paperless” was also mentioned in the budget.

Choudhary also complimented the Center for the several announcements made for Bihar in the Union budget and spoke about the “cooperation” the state has gotten from it.