Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik government on Friday turned generous and announced a monthly medical allowance of Rs 2,000 for former MLAs. Sitting MLAs get a similar allowance of Rs 5,000 each month.

A decision to extend medical allowance facility to former MLAs was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Sources said the Odisha government had also increased their health insurance from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum on a par with sitting MLAs to meet the cost of treatment in case of serious diseases.

Cutting across party lines, the MLAs welcomed the decision.

"I know former MLAs are not even able to maintain a dignified life. Sometimes they are not being able to get treatment because of the lack of finance. This is a move in the right direction," said a senior minister.

In the Odisha Assembly, parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh on Friday tabled a bill to increase the daily allowance of the Speaker from Rs 150 to Rs 800 with effect from January 1, 2017.

Similarly, the daily allowance of the Deputy Speaker and council of ministers will be enhanced from Rs 150 to Rs 800 with effect from the same date.

The cabinet also approved the house rent allowances admissible to each minister (having no government accommodation) will be enhanced from Rs 100 per month to Rs 1,000 per day till allotment of the quarters on a par with the accommodation allowance admissible to the MLAs.

The Odisha cabinet also approved the proposal for amendment to the Odisha Ground Water (Regulation, Development and Management) Bill for effective regulation, development and management of ground water resources in the state.

The cabinet also approved the amendment of Odisha Forest Service Group-A (junior branch recruitment and conditions of service) Rule, 2013. With this forest rangers having graduation qualification can be promoted to the rank of ACF Group (A), for better prospect of the career.