PATNA, June 4 -- In a significant boost for patients across Bihar, the state cabinet on Wednesday raised the annual income ceiling for assistance under the chief minister's medical assistance fund from Rs.2.5 lakh to Rs.4 lakh per annum, potentially bringing relief to thousands more families struggling with costly treatments. The decision was among 13 proposals cleared in a meeting chaired by CM Samrat Chaudhary. Officials said the expanded eligibility was aimed at ensuring more genuinely needy patients could access financial help for serious illnesses without being shut out by a lower threshold. Briefing media persons after the meeting, additional chief secretary (cabinet) Arvind Kumar Chaudhary said the step reflected the government's intent to reach a larger section of the population that genuinely needed support during medical emergencies. The cabinet also gave its nod to amend the Bihar child development services (recruitment and service conditions) rules, 2015, paving the way for direct recruitment to fill child development project officer posts through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). Under the existing system, 25% of these positions were to be filled by promoting regular female supervisors. However, an acute shortage of eligible candidates has hampered implementation of various integrated child development services (ICDS) schemes. The one-time relaxation is expected to strengthen supervision and monitoring of women and child welfare programmes. In another important decision, the cabinet approved Rs.164.51 crore for implementing the PM's micro food processing enterprises uplift scheme for 2026-27. The scheme's timeline has been extended till September 30, 2026. Under the programme, individual entrepreneurs setting up micro food processing units will receive 35% capital subsidy, up to a maximum of Rs.10 lakh. Group-based units will also be eligible for the same. The government plans to run awareness campaigns and training programmes to encourage more local investors to enter the food processing sector. The cabinet further cleared a proposal from the water resources department to fill low-lying areas at the proposed site of AIIMS in Darbhanga. The earth-filling work will use silt dredged from nearby rivers, including the Khiroi and Bagmati. The department has been sanctioned Rs.184.65 crore for the task. The state government had earlier approved an overall cost of Rs.309 crore for site development at the Darbhanga AIIMS location....