THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, February 24: Calling the Abua Dishom Budget 2026–27 a historic step for villages, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Deepika Pandey Singh said the state government has placed rural upliftment at the core of its development agenda.
“This budget is completely inclusive and has been prepared with women, children and rural society at the centre. Its aim is not just to change the structure of villages, but to bring real change in the lives of the people living there,” she said while reacting to the budget provisions.
Stronger Focus on Rural Economy
The minister pointed out that the budget of the Rural Development Department has been increased from ₹9,841 crore in 2025–26 to ₹12,347 crore in 2026–27.
“This significant increase will help revitalise the rural economy and accelerate livelihood generation, housing, self-help groups and social security schemes,” she said.
Similarly, the allocation for the Rural Works Department has gone up from ₹4,576 crore to ₹5,081 crore.
“This amount will be spent on strengthening rural roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Better connectivity will link remote villages to main roads and promote economic activities,” she added.
The Panchayati Raj Department’s budget has also been increased from ₹2,144 crore to ₹2,283 crore.
“This is an important step towards empowering Panchayats, strengthening Panchayat Secretariats and reinforcing local self-governance,” Deepika Pandey Singh said.
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Major Allocation for Women and Children
Highlighting the government’s commitment to social inclusion, she said, “This year, approximately ₹34,000 crore has been allocated for 250 schemes for women. By increasing gender budgeting to 35 per cent, we have shown a clear commitment to advancing women’s equality.”
She further stated, “More than 10 per cent of the budget, over ₹10,000 crore, has been allocated for 132 schemes under child budgeting. This reflects our priority towards the welfare of children.”
Concern Over Pending Central Funds
On the issue of pending central assistance, the minister said, “Despite meeting all the prescribed criteria, Jharkhand was still owed around ₹1,300 crore before March. The Panchayati Raj Department has fulfilled all conditions, yet the full amount has not been received. We hope the remaining instalments will be released soon, which will further accelerate development.”
Describing the budget as a strong step towards giving Jharkhand a new identity at the national level, Deepika Pandey Singh reiterated that the department is working with full commitment to bring tangible change in villages and improve the lives of rural people across the state.