Cabinet approval: Ex-MLAs to get Rs 2K per month as medical aid

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Bhubaneswar: State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday approved seven proposals including provision for providing Rs 2,000 per month as medical allowance to the former MLAs.
As the budget session of Assembly is going on, there was no official briefing about the decision taken by the Cabinet. However, sources said the medi-claim health insurance of ex-MLAs has been increased to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.
Similarly, the house rent allowance of a minister, having no government accommodation, has been increased from Rs 100 per day to Rs 1,000 per day. It was decided at the meeting to make necessary amendments to Odisha Legislative Assembly Members’ Salary, Allowance and Pension Act, 1954 and Odisha Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances Act 1952, in this regard.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to amend Odisha Cooperative Societies Act, 1962 so that the cooperative societies functioning in state and dealing with credit business will be restricted from admitting nominal members. However, it will not apply to the cooperative banks and societies, formed exclusively for promotion of economic interest of any particular, professional and occupational groups whose principal object is to accept deposit and advance loans, the source said. The government has approved tender for project to supply water to Belpahar and Brajarajnagar municipalities from Hirakud water reservoir. The tender includes five years of operation and maintenance cost. The project is planned to meet the demand of targeted population of 2048 (1,71,000) in the two municipalities, they said.
It was also decided at the meeting to amend the Odisha Ground Water (Regulation, Development and Management) Bill 2011 to make it more effective. The Odisha Forest Service Group A (junior branch) Recruitment and Condition of Service Rules, 2013 will also be amended so that the forest rangers having graduation qualification can be promoted to the rank of additional conservator of forests.
Besides, the proposal of General Administration (GA) department to amend the Odisha Government Rules of Business has been approved by the Cabinet. Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology will be assigned university status.