Lucknow, Aug. 9 -- In move that could find ready support across party lines, the Yogi Adityanath government is weighing a major relaxation in the rules governing the use of Vidhayak Nidhi (MLAs Local Area Development Fund) for medical expenses to poor patients, including a proposal to double the total annual ceiling for such assistance from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh.

The proposed changes could give MLAs and MLCs greater flexibility in helping poor patients with serious and life-threatening ailments when it is needed urgently.

"The state government is examining four key proposals, including doing away with the existing disease-wise restrictions and allowing beneficiaries to receive assistance from both the chief minister's Discretionary F...