Patna, Feb. 26: The state government today presented an estimated budget (2016-17) of Rs 1,44,696.27 crore - projected 40 per cent more than the last financial year's (2015-16) Rs 1,20,685.32 crore - reflecting chief minister Nitish Kumar's vision of development in keeping with his electoral promises.

Education continued to be the government's first priority with energy occupying the second slot, relegating road construction to the fourth in terms of funds allocation. Rural works has got the third slot and rural development is fifth. It clearly suggests Nitish's resolve to ramp up aid, grants and scholarships and education infrastructure to woo the youth. More funds for energy than road construction also reflects his commitment to light up every home in the next couple of years.

The budget for the current fiscal has an estimated plan outlay of Rs 71,501.84 crore and non-plan expenditure of Rs 72,276.95 crore.

In keeping with the tradition of presenting a revenue-surplus budget during the NDA stint, the Grand Alliance under Nitish presented its first budget showing surplus revenue worth Rs 14,649.46 crore for the 2016-17 fiscal. The annual plan size stands at worth Rs 71,501.84 crore that is Rs 14,364.22 crore more in comparison to last year.

The budget estimate finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui presented during the Assembly's post-lunch session did not propose fresh taxes for two reasons.

The government last month increased the value-added tax (VAT) from 7-8 per cent to nearly 13 per cent on a variety of goods, including dry fruits, cosmetics, confectionaries and costly garments, to compensate for the loss of revenue on account of prohibition. Second, the finance minister's portfolio does not include commercial taxes, which is the purview of Bijendra Yadav to take a call on the issue separately.

Siddiqui set in motion his budget speech by enumerating Nitish's seven resolves - economic solutions to empower youngsters, 35 per cent quota for women in government jobs, electricity in every home, water supply to all households, concrete roads and drainage up to all houses, toilets and enhancement in opportunities for the underprivileged.

Siddqui also announced payment of train fare to all workers migrating to other states in different seasons for work.

There were reports doing the rounds that the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre had "meticulously" worked with migrant Bihari labourers working in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country to root for the NDA during the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2015 Bihar Assembly elections. The payment of train fare to migrant workers is a step to prevent the Opposition "poaching" them.

Conscious of the political dividends Nitish reaped from the uniform, bicycle and scholarship schemes for students in successive elections, this year's budget has earmarked an outlay of Rs 21,897.02 crore for it - the highest amount in comparison to other sectors. Siddqui announced the setting up of five private universities, acquiring 119 acres of land for the newly sanctioned Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Bodhgaya, payment of Rs 10,000 as encouragement amount to every student passing matriculation in first division, filling up vacancies of 3,345 teachers in colleges and universities, setting up computers in primary and secondary schools, and providing Wi-Fi facilities in higher education institutions.

The budget has allocated an estimated Rs 14,367.84 crore for the energy department to step up work at the mega power project at Navinagar and augmenting capacities of the Barauni and Kanti thermal power stations, apart from setting up poles and improving the supply and distribution lines to provide power in every home.

The budget has earmarked Rs 5,954.31 crore for rural works - third in terms of allocation - and rural development has been given Rs 5,420.13 crore, keeping in view the panchayat and local civic body polls scheduled in April this year. The budget promised building of community houses and spreading the network of computers in all panchayats.

The road construction department has got an estimated allocation of Rs 5,651.41 crore. Siddqui repeated Nitish's resolve to keep on adding roads and bridges in rural areas to ensure that people can reach Patna from the furthest point of Bihar within five hours - revised from the earlier target of six hours.

The irrigation department has got an allocation of Rs 2,279.06 crore to complete the Durgawati water reservoir project, the Karamanasha irrigation project and other projects in Jehanabad, Arwal, Patna and Gaya districts.

The Bihar Chamber of Commerce hailed the budget, stating the rise of 40 per cent in the total allocation in comparison to last year would surely step up growth and development of the state. "It will help the government in setting up a Rs 500-crore venture development fund, open five new medical colleges, five new private universities and skill development institutions in the state putting the state on path of overall progress and prosperity," chamber president O.P. Shah said.

Bihar Industries Association president Ram Lal Khetan also hailed the budget, saying: "The rise in the budgetary allocation and plan size will help the state achieve its goals on all fronts."

Former finance minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi disagreed, and said the budget failed to allocate enough for the chief minister's seven resolves. "Given the allocations, Nitish will find it hard to implement his resolves even in the next 20 years," he said.