The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) today alleged “manipulation of figures in the state government’s Budget.

“There is a Rs 7,700 crore deficit in the Budget. The claim of remaining within the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act is manipulation of figures,” JVM’s Legislature Party leader Pradip Yadav said in the Assembly.

He questioned the increase in the per capita income, saying there was an unequal distribution of money among people.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s MLA and former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi said though the focus was given on agriculture, irrigation still lagged in the state and there were thousands of defunct hand pumps.

“Unless irrigation is strengthened, agriculture will not develop… check dams should be built at proper places,” Marandi said.

Congress MLA Alamgir Alam said there was a requirement to increase the production of grains to meet the shortage in the face of Food Security Act.