Sparks flew in Ranchi’s Assembly hall during budget session day eight, pitting treasury benches against a belligerent opposition on rural grants. Deepika Pandey Singh, rural development helmsperson, championed village metamorphosis, hailing PESA as Adivasi bulwark—empowering sabhas for natural resource custody, easing venues, prizing women hires.
Renamed BVG Ramji notched substantial work generation, but Singh pilloried Union for crippling holds on funds, from MGNREGA billions to Finance panel allotments. Abua shelters hit 1.90 lakh completions, tranche-wise payouts detailed, affirming fiscal robustness.
Spotlighting SHGs’ 2.72 crore plantations, she wove eco-rural synergy. BJP’s Pradeep Prasad unleashed stats salvo: Rs 9,500 crore last fiscal, Rs 367 crore spent by early 2026—rural works and panchayats equally comatose.
Querying new fiscal asks amid old inertias, he fingered raids exposing official opulence. JMM’s Jairam Mahto flagged spend disparities, proposing transparent infra via public voice. Amit Yadav assailed housing backlogs.
Suresh Baitha and Chandradev Mahato urged PESA polish, sabha muscle, deadline discipline. Treasury vaunted progress; foes dissected delays—rural governance’s litmus test laid bare.