Patna, Aug 17 (IANS): Conjoined twins Saba and Farah will now get a monthly grant of Rs.20,000, following an order from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to increase it from the Rs.5,000 they were getting hitherto, an official said on Monday.

The 19-year-old conjoined twins met Nitish Kumar during his weekly janata darbar here and submitted a petition in this connection.

"Nitish Kumar assured them and directed the concerned officials to increase their grant from Rs.5,000 to Rs.20,000," said an official in the chief minister's office.

Two years ago, the state government had agreed to pay the grant following a Supreme Court directive.

The apex court had ordered the Bihar government to take care of the twins' medical expenses. The court's direction came on a public interest litigation filed by Aarushi Dhasmana, a law student in Pune.

Saba and Farah live with their parents in Samanpura area of Patna.

Their father Shakeel Ahmad -- who runs a small roadside eatery -- said the grant would help the family take proper care of the twins.

The Supreme Court in its order had ruled out surgery to separate the two sisters.