Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday enhanced health coverage for women under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh within minutes of a tribal woman from Malkangiri making a request to him during a video-aided interaction.

Naveen's decision was instant following a video interaction with people under the Ama Gaon Ama Bikash scheme of the government.

He said: "Today, I had a discussion with people of eight districts on the Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Yojana. A lady from Malkangiri district, Mamata, said we should enhance the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana coverage for women from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. I have taken note of this suggestion and it will be enhanced to Rs 7 lakh.."

On June 12, Naveen had announced the Biju Swasthya Yojana health assurance scheme that is set to benefit 70 lakh people. Beneficiaries will get treatment and medicines worth Rs 5 lakh at government hospitals, including those at the districts.

During the meeting with the people of Malkangiri on Wednesday, Naveen heard the plea of Mamata Padiamy, a woman in her 20s and from the Maoist-hit Kalimela block.

She urged the chief minister to enhance health coverage under Mission Shakti.

Malkangiri collector Manish Agarwal, who was present during the interaction, said within 15 minutes of Mamata's plea the hike was announced.

Former minister Damodar Rout said Naveen's act echoed his father Biju Patnaik.

He said: "Biju babu as chief minister in 1992 had instantly hiked the daily wages of labourers in the state from Rs 11 to Rs 25 on the request of a woman labourer at Patna tehsil of Keonjhar district."

However, the Congress and the BJP termed Naveen's move as a political gimmick.