Patna: Bihar Budget for 2012-13 invited sharp criticism from opposition RJD which slammed the government for increasing the Plan size. However, some trade and industry bodies hailed it as pro-development.
"The Budget is a pointer to bad financial management by the state government which has increased the Plan size even though it has been unable to utilise funds earlier," Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly and senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddique said.
The state government is "trying to pat its own back" by increasing the Plan size to over Rs 78,686 crores for the next fiscal and increased schemes in the name of the Chief Minister from 37 to 40, he said.
RJD State President Ramchandra Purve and Party National General Secretary Ram Kripal Yadav criticised the budget as being antagonistic to farmers and rural development and said the gulf between rich and poor would only widen given the thrust areas of the budget.
The state government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1,200 crore only for agriculture which reflects its lack of concern for the core economic sectors in Bihar, they said.
Industry chamber Assocham's Office Bearer Ravi Wig, however, described the budget as pro-development and said it is a reflection of the state government's commitment for development of the entire state.
Bihar Chamber of Commerce (BCC) President OP Sah echoed similar views and described the budget as "forward looking". The proposals would boost the state's integrated development, he said.
But Bihar Industries Association (BIA) expressed disappointment with the Budget and said the state government has neglected demands of those industrialists desirous of setting up small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
Its suggestions for incentives for SMEs have been ignored in the Budget, BIA said in a statement.
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