The Assam Handicraft Artsans Welfare Fund Act, 1998 (Single Document)
# ASSAM ACT NO. VII OF 1999
 (Received the Assent of the Governor on 18th January, 1999)

 THE ASSAM HANDICRAFT ARTISANS WELFARE FUND ACT, 1998.


# AN


# ACT


**Preamble.**

**Short title,**
**extent and**
**commencement.**


to provide for the constitution of Fund to grant relief to, to promote the
welfare of, and to pay pension to Handicraft Artisans in the State of Assam
and for other matters connected thereto.

Whereas it is expedient to provide for the constitution of Fund to grant
relief to, to promote the Welfare of, and to pay pension to Handicraft
Artisans in the State of Assam and for certain other matters connected
thereto;

It is hereby enacted in the Forty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as
follows:
**1.** (1) This Act may be called the Assam Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund

Act, 1998.


(2) It extends to the whole of Assam.


(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by

notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be
appointed for different provisions of this Act.

**Definitions.** **2.** In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) “Board” means the Assam Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund Board

constituted under section 6;

(b) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer

appointed under sub-section (1) of section 9;

(c) “Handicraft products” means, 
(i) cane products,

(ii) bamboo artistic products,


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(iii) wood curving/Decorative Furniture,

(iv) drift crafts (Craft made of Tree rods and branches),

(v) brass Metal,

(vi) gold smith/Silver smith,

(vii) terracotta/Earthen ware,

(viii) pith craft,

(ix) decorative Textile (Loem loom / shuttle loom),

(x) doll and toy making,

(xi) jute crafts,

(xii) stone curving,

(xiii) sital pati,

(xiv) paper crafts,

(xv) bhawna dress (dress used for Theater),

(xvi) bead crafts,

(xvii) paper machine,

(xviii) embroidery,

(xix) mask making,

(xx) mirijum,

(xxi) carpet making,

(xxii) laisengphee,

(xxiii) grass/leaf work,

(xxiv) decorative item made of plaster of paris/ cements,

(xxv) decorative item made of any other media;

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(d) “Handicraft Artisans” means any person who has engaged himself for

production of Handicrafts items or any person who is employed for
wages to produce the Handicraft products and includes any person
employed by any non-Government organisation, co-operative society or
through any other agent and depends mainly on Handicrafts Industries
for his livelihood and whom the Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, from time to time declare to be Handicraft Artisan for
the purposes of this Act;

**_Explanation:- If any question arises as to whether a person is or is not_**
a Handicraft Artisans for the purposes of this Act, the matter shall be
referred to the Advisory Committee constituted by the Government.

(e) “Government” means Government of Assam;

(f) “Director of Industries” means Director of Industries for the State of

Assam;

(g) “Contribution” means the sum of money payable to the Fund under

section 4;

(h) “Dealer” means any person who is engaged in the business of purchase,

sale or storage for sale of any Handicraft products, but does not include
a Handicraft Artisan who sells or stores for sale, the Handicrafts by
himself;

(i) “Family” means the husband, wife and their children;

(j) “Fund” means the Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund, established under

section 3;

(k) “Artisans” means a person who engaged himself to any of the

Handicraft products;

(l) “Member” means a member of the Fund;

(m) “Person” includes a company, a firm, an association of individuals,

Non-Governmental Organisations or a Cooperative Society, registered
or deemed to be registered under the Assam Co-operative Societies Act,
1949;

(n) “Employer” means any person who directly employes wheather on

behalf of himself or for any other person one or more Handicrafts
Artisans to produce any Handicraft product;

(o) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(p) “Producer of Handicraft Products” means a person who carries on the

business of producing Handicraft products for export or for internal
marketing;

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**Handicraft**
**Artisans**
**Welfare Fund**
**Scheme.**


(q) “Schedule” means the schedule to this Act;

(r) “Scheme” means a scheme framed under this Act;

(s) “Year” means the financial year;

(t) “Board” means the Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund Board constituted

under section 6.

**3.** (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, frame a

scheme to be called the Assam Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund
Scheme for the establishment of a Fund under this Act for the welfare
of the Handicraft Artisans engaged in the Handicraft Industry and there
shall be established as soon as may be after the framing of the Scheme
a Fund in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Scheme.


(2) There shall be credited to the Fund

(a) the contribution specified in section 4;


(b) the amount borrowed by the Board under section 10;


(c) damage realised under section 19;


(d) grants or loan or advances made by the Government of India or the

State Government or any other institutions;


(e) any donations from any other Sources;


(f) any amount raised by the Board from other sources to augment the

resources of the Board;


(g) fee levied under the scheme;


(h) any other amount which, under the provisions of the Scheme shall

be credited to the Fund;

(3) The Fund shall vest in, and be administered by the Board constituted

under section 6.


(4) The Fund may be utilised for all or any of the following purposes,

namely:
(a) For payment of pension –

(i) to a member who is unable to work due to old age or infirmity
or who has completed the age of sixty years;

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(ii) to a person who before the commencement of this Act was a
Handicraft Artisan and completed the age of sixty years or
who suffers from permanent disablement and is out of
employment;

(b) for payment of family pension to the spouse of the deceased

member;

(c) for payment of financial assistance to member who suffers from

permanent or temporary disablement;


(d) for payment of loans or grants to a member to meet the day to day

expenses during off seasons or to meet expenses for the marriage of
children or for expenses in connection with disease or death of
dependents or for expenses in connection with the education of
children or for expenses for construction or maintenance of houses;

(e) to provide maternity benefits to women Artisans engaged in

Handicraft Industry who are not eligible for such benefits under any
other law for the time being in force;

(f) to provide for distress relief to the family of any member affected

by natural calamities and epidemics;


(g) to provide for the Handicraft Artisans and their family members

(i) medical facilities;

(ii) nurseries and creches;

(iii) education, vocational training and facilities for part time

employment;


(iv) or any other facilities specified in the Scheme.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Scheme framed under sub
section (1) may provide for all or any of the matters spedified in subsection (4) and in the Schedule.

(6) The Scheme be laid as soon as may be after it is framed, before the

Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of fourteen
days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more
successive session and if before the expiry of the session in which it is
so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly
makes any modification in the Scheme the Scheme shall thereafter have
effect only in such modified form so that any such modification shall be
without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under the
Scheme.

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**Contribution to**
**the fund.**

**Modification of**
**the Scheme.**


**4.** (1) Every Handicraft Artisan shall contribute to the Fund one rupee each

per month.


(7) Where the amount of any contribution payable under this Act, involves

a fraction of rupee, the Scheme may provide for the rounding off of
such fraction to the next nearest rupee.

**5.** (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette add to,

amend or vary the Scheme either prospectively or retrospectively.

(2) Every notification under sub-section ( 1) shall be laid as soon as may

be, after it is issued before the Assam Legislative Assembly while it is
in session for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised
in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the
expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately
following, the Legislative Assembly agrees in making any modification
in the notification or decide that the notification should not be issued,
the notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form
or be of no effect as the case may be so, however that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of
anything previously done under that notification.

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(2) Every employer other than Handicraft Co-operative Society or Non

Governmental Organisation shall in respect of each Handicraft
Artisans, contribute to the Fund two rupees per month.

(3) Every Handicrafts Co-operative Society or Non-Governmental

Organisation which employes Handicraft Artisans shall in respect of
each handicraft Artisans contribute to the Fund one rupee per month.

**_Explanation:- For the purpose of sub-sections (2) and (3) Handicrafts_**
Co-operative Society means a society registered or deemed to be
registered under the Assam Co-operative Societies Act, 1949 and the
Rules made thereunder and Non-Governmental Organisation means an
organisation registered or deemed to be registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 (Central Act No. XXI of 1860) which is
engaged to work to produce Handicraft products.

(4) The Government shall contribute to the Fund every year an amount

equal to twice the amount contributed by the Handicraft Artisans, or a
maximum of Rs. 10.00 lakhs (Rupees Ten Lakhs) by way of grant,
whichever is less.

(5) Every producer of Handicraft product and every dealer shall contribute

to the Fund an amount equal to one percent of their sale proceeds in a
year.

(6) The contribution shall be paid to the Chief Executive Officer or to any

officer of the Board authorised by the Board in this behalf.


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**Constitution of**
**the Board.**

**Terms of office**
**of Directors.**


**6.** (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette constitute

with effect from such date as may be specified therein, a Board to be
called the "Handicraft Artisans Welfare Fund Board" for the
administration of the Fund and to supervise or carry out the activities
financed from the Fund.

(2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having

perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by the said name sue
and be sued.

(3) The Board shall consist of such number of Directors not exceeding

fifteen in number, as may be appointed by the Government and they
shall be chosen in such manner as may be prescribed :

Provided that seventy-five percent of the number of the Director
shall be from amongst Handicraft Artisans, Handicraft Co-Operative
Societies and Non-Governmental Organisation dealing with

Handicrafts and the remaining shall be represented by Government.

(4) (a) Seven person appointed by the Government amongst the Handicraft

Artisans.


(8) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Government delegate

to the Chairman or to any Director of the Board or to the Chief
Executive Officer, such of its powers and functions under this Act or
the Scheme as it may consider necessary for the efficient administration
of the Fund, subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as it may
specify.

**7.** (1) A Director appointed under sub-section (3) of section 6 shall hold

office for a period of three years.

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(b) Four persons representing Co-Operative Society and Non
Governmental Organisation.

(c) Four official appointed by the Government shall be Officer not

below the rank of Joint Director, or equivalent representing,
Industries Department, Finance Department, Labour Department,
Government undertaking Corporation dealing with Handicrafts and
Handloom, Department.

(5) One of the members of the Board shall be appointed by the

Government to be its chairman.


(6) The Government shall publish in the Official Gazette the names of all

the Directors of the Board.

(7) The Board shall administer the Fund vested in it in such manner as may

be specified in the Scheme.


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**Removal of non-**
**official**
**Directors.**

**Appointment of**
**officer and staff.**


(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 8, the Government may

at any time, for reasons to be recorded in writing, remove from office
any Director of the Board after giving him a reasonable opportunity of
showing cause against the proposed removal :

Provided that it shall not be necessary to record in writing the reason
for the removal or to give an opportunity of showing cause against the
proposed removal if the Government is of the opinion that it is not
expedient in the public interest to record the reason in writing or giving
such opportunity.

(3) Any Director may resign his membership by giving notice in writing to

the Government but shall continue in office until his resignation is
accepted by the Government.

**8.** (1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette remove

any non-official Director of the Board from office –

(a) if he has, without the permission of the Board, been absent from the

meeting of the Board for three consecutive meetings:

Provided, however, that such absence may be condoned by the
Board before the publication of the notification in the Official
Gazette;

(b) if he, in the opinion of the Government is unsuitable or has become

incapable of acting as a Director or has so abused his position as a
Director detrimental to the public interest :

Provided that before removing a Director under this sub-section,
he shall be given an opportunity of being heard as to why he shall
not be removed.

(2) A non-official Director of the Board removed under Clause (a) of sub

section (1) shall be disqualified for reappointment as a Director of the
Board for a period of three years from the date of his removal unless
otherwise ordered by the Government.

(3) A non-official Director of the Board removed under clause (b) of the

sub-section (1) shall not be eligible for reappointment until he is
declared by an order of the Government to be no longer ineligible.

**9.** (1) The Government may appoint a Chief Executive Officer and such

number of other officers and staff as they considered necessary to assist
the Board in the discharge of its functions and duties under the Act.

(2) Subject to the provision of sub-section (3), the method of appointment,

salary and allowances, discipline and the other conditions of Service of
the Chief Executive Officer and the other officers and staff appointed
under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed.

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(3) In the case of posts in the Service under the Board to which

appointment is made by direct recruitment –

(a) fifty percent shall be reserved for appointment from candidates

belonging to the families of Handicraft Artisan; and


**Power of the**
**Board to**
**borrow.**

**Determination**
**of amount due.**


(b) fifty percent shall be filled in accordance with the procedure laid

down in the rules as may be prescribed.

**10.** The Board may, from time to time with the previous approval of the
Government subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified by the
Government, borrow money for the purpose of the Schemes.

**11.** (1) The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer authorised by the

Board in this behalf may, after making such enquiry as may be
necessary and after giving every person liable to pay contribution under
section 4 an opportunity of being heard, by order, determine the amount
due from every employer or dealer or producer of Handicraft products
under the provisions of this Act or the Scheme.

(2) The officer conducting the enquiry under sub-section (1), shall for the

purpose of such enquiry, have the same powers as are vested in the
Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
(Central Act 5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely :
(a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;


(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;


(c) receiving evidence on affidavit;


(d) issuing commissions for the examination of withnesses.


(3) Any enquiry under this section shall be deemed to be a judicial

proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and 228 of the Indian
Penal Code (Central Act 45 of 1860) and for the purpose of section 196
of the said Code.

(4) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) may within

thirty days from the date of receipt of the order, prefer an appeal to the
Director of Industries or an officer not below the rank of Joint Director
authorised by him in this behalf and Director of Industries or the officer
authorised by him may after making such enquiry pass such order
thereon as he thinks fit.

(5) The Government may either suo-motu or an application made by any

aggrieved person, call for the records of any proceedings taken by the
Director of Industries, or the officer authorised by him under subsection (4) and make such enquiry and pass such orders as they deem
fit:

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**Provisional**
**assessement and**
**collection**
**contribution.**

**Mode of**
**recovery of**
**money.**

**Priority of**
**payment of**
**contribution**
**over other debts.**

**Employer not to**
**reduce wages**
**etc.**


Provided that an application for revision under this sub-section shall
be made within thirty days from the date on which the order was
communicated to the applicant :

Provided further that no order shall be passed under this sub-section
without giving the person who may be affected there by an opportunity
of being heard.

**12.** (1) Every employer or dealer or producer of Handicraft products liable to

pay contribution under section 4 shall, pending determination under
section 11 of the amount due from him, pay on or before the 5th day of
every month an amount equivalent to one twelfth of the amount payable
annually by him according to the latest determination under the said
section.

(2) The contribution for a month due from a Handicraft Artisan shall

become payable on or before the 5th day of the succeeding month.

(3) Where the contribution is not paid on or before the due date the Chief

Executive Officer or any officer of the Board authorised by it in this
behalf shall issue a notice to the defaulter showing the amount of arrears
and if the amount is not paid within fifteen days of the receipt of such
notice, it may be recovered in the same manner as an arrear of Land
Revenue due on Land.

(4) The amount paid under sub-section (1) by an employer or dealer or

producer of Handicraft products shall be for a year.


**13.** Any amount due from the Handicraft Artisans employers dealers and
producers of Handicrafts products in pursuance of the provisions of this Act,
or the Scheme may if the amount is in arrears, be recovered in the same
manner as an arrear of land Revenue due on land.

**14.** Where any employer of dealer or producer of Handicraft products liable to
pay contribution under section 4 is adjudicated as insolvent or in case such
employer or dealer or producer of Handicraft products is a company, an order
for winding up is made the amount due from such employer or dealer and
producer of Handicraft products under this Act or the Scheme shall, where
the liability therefore has accrued before the order of adjudication or winding
up is made, be deemed to be included among the debts which under section
64 of the Insolvency Act, 1955, (Central Act 2 of 1956) or under section 530
of the Companies Act 1956, (Central Act 1 of 1956) are to be paid in priority
to all other debts in the distribution of the property of the insolvent or the
assets of the company being wound up, as the case may be.

**15.** No employer or dealer or producer of Handicraft products shall by reasons
only of his liability for the payment of any contribution to the Fund reduce
whether directly or indirectly the wages of any Handicraft Artisan to whom
the Scheme applies or the total quantum of benefits to which the Handicraft
Artisans is entitled under the terms of his employment express or implied.

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**Director of the**
**Board etc. to be**
**Public servants.**


**16.**


Every Director of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and other officers
and members of the staff of the Board appointed under sub-section (1) of
section 9 shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of
section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, (Central Act 45 of 1860).


**Penalty.** **17.** (1) Whoever, for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be made by

himself under this Act, or under the Scheme or of enabling any other
person to avoid such payment knowingly makes or causes to be made
any false Statement or false representation, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine
which may extend to five hundred rupees or both.

(2) Whoever contravenes or makes default in complying with any of the

provisions of this Act or of the Scheme shall, if no other penalty is
elsewhere provided by or under this Act such contravention or noncompliance, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to two months or with fine which may extend to four hundred
rupees or both.

(3) No Court, inferior to that of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, shall

try any offence punishable under this Act.


**Offences by**
**companies.**


(4) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this

Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence
made with previous sanction of Chief Executive Officer.

**18.** (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company,

every person, who at the time when the offence was committed, was in
charge of, and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the
business of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be
guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly.

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any
such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was
committed without his knowledge or that he had excercised all due
diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) above where any

offence under this Act, has been committed by a company and it is
proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or
connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any officer
of the company, such officer of the company shall be deemed to be
guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly.

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**Power to recover**
**damages.**

**Protection for**
**acts done in**
**good faith.**

**Direction by the**
**Government.**

**Power to order**
**enquiry.**

**Power to**
**supersede the**
**Board.**


(b) “Officer of the Company” means Managing Director, Director,

Managing Agent, Secretary, Treasurer or Manager of the Company
and includes the office bearers of a firm or Co-operative Society or
other association of individuals and Non-Governmental

Organisation.

**19.** Where any person makes default in payment of any contribution to the Fund
under this Act, or the Scheme, the Board may recover from him damages, not
exceeding twenty five percent of the amount of arrear as they may think fit to
impose.

**20.** No suit or other legal proceedings shall be filed against any Director of the
Board or any other person in respect of anything, which is in good faith done
or intended to be done under this Act, or under the Scheme.

**21.** (1) The Government may, after consultation with the Board, give to the

Board general direction to be followed by the Board.

(2) In the exercise of the powers and performance of its duties under this

Act, the Board shall not depart from any general direction issued under
sub-section (1) except with the previous permission of the Government.

**22.** (1) The Government may, at any time, appoint any person to inquire into

the working of the Board and submit a report to the Government.


(2) The Board shall give the person so appointed all facilities for the proper

conduct of the inquiry and furnish to him such documents, accounts and
information in the possession of the Board as may be required.

**23.** (1) If on consideration of the report under section 22 or otherwise, the

Government are of opinion that the Board has persistently defaulted in
the implementation of the programme or the performance of duties
imposed by it by or under the provisions of this Act or the Scheme or
has exceeded or abused its powers, the Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, supersede the Board for such period
not exceeding six months as may be specified in the notification :

Provided that before issuing a notification under this sub-section, the
Government shall give a reasonable opportunity to the Board to show
cause as to why Board should not be superseded and shall consider the
explanation and objections, if any, of the Board.

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(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1).


(a) all the Directors of the Board shall, as from the date of such

publication, vacate their offices as such Directors ;

(b) all powers and duties, which may be exercised or performed by the

Board shall, during the period of supersession be exercised or
performed by such officer or officers as may be specified in the
notification,


(c) all funds and other properties vested in the Government.


**Audit of**
**Accounts of the**
**Board and**
**remuneration of**
**Auditors.**

**Annual Report,**
**Audited**
**Statement of**
**Accounts.**

**Bar of**
**Jurisdiction of**
**Civil Court.**

**Special**
**provision for**
**transfer of**
**accumulation**
**from welfare**
**funds**
**established by**
**any Acts or**
**Agreement.**


(3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the

notification issued under sub-section (1) the Government shall
reconstitute the Board in the manner provided in Section 6.

**24.** (1) The Government shall appoint auditors to audit the accounts of the

Board.

(2) The Board shall pay to the said auditors such remuneration, as the

Government may direct.


(3) The accounts of the Board shall be examined and audited once in every

year by such auditors.

**25.** (1) The Annual Report of the Board shall be prepared under the direction of

the Board and after approval by the Board, a copy of the report shall be
submitted to the Government before the end of July every year.

(2) The Government shall, as soon as the annual report is received, cause

the same together with the audited statement of the accounts to be laid
on the floor of Assam Legislative Assembly.

**26.** No civil court shall have jurisdiction to settle, decide or deal with any
question or to determine any matter which is by or under this act or the
scheme required to be settled, decided or dealt with or to be determined by
the Government or the Board or Director of Industries or any officer
authorised by the Director of Industries or the Chief Executive Officer or any
officer authorised by the Board.

**27.** Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in
force, on the date of publication of this Act in the Official Gazette, the sums
standing to the credit of a member in any welfare fund established either by
any Law or agreement shall stand transferred to and credited to the Fund
established under this Act and the liability of such member to pay
contribution to such welfare fund shall cease from such date.

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**Removal of**
**difficulties.**

**Power to make**
**rules.**


**28.** (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the

Government may as occasion may require, by order, do anything not
inconsistent with this Act or the rules, which appears necessary for the
purpose of removing the difficulty.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid before the State

Legislative Assembly.

**29.** (1) The Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules

either prospectively or reprospectively for the purpose of carrying into
effect the provisions of this Act.

(2) All rules made by the State Government under this Act shall, as soon as

may be, after they are made, be laid before the Assam Legislative
Assembly, while it is in session, for a total period of not less then
fourteen days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or
more successive sessions, and shall, unless some later date is appointed,
take effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette
subject to such modifications or annulments as the Legislature may,
during the said period agree to make, so however, any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of
anything previously done thereunder.

**SCHEDULE**

**[SEE SECTION 3 (1)]**

**MATTERS FOR WHICH PROVISIONS MAY BE MADE IN THE**

**SCHEME:**

(1) Registration of Handicraft Artisans, employers, producers of Handicraft

products and dealers;


(2) The time and manner in which contribution shall be made to the Fund

by Handicraft Artisans, employer, producers of Handicraft products and
dealers and by or on behalf of Handicraft Artisans, the contributions
which a Handicraft Artisan may make under section 4 and the manner in
which such contribution may be recovered;

(3) The manner in which the Handicraft Artisans, contributions may be

recovered by the employers;


(4) The constitution of any committee for assisting the Board;


(5) The manner in which accounts shall be kept, the investment of money

belonging to the Fund in accordance with any directions issued or
conditions specified by the Government, the preparation of the budget,
the audit of accounts and the submission of reports to the Government;

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(6) The form in which a Handicraft Artisan shall furnish particulars about

himself and his family whenever required ;

(7) The nomination of a person to receive family pension of a member on

his death and the cancellation or variation of such nomination ;


(8) The Registers required to be maintained with respect to Handicraft

Artisans and the returns to be furnished by the employer;

(9) The forms or design of any identity card, taken or formulated for the

purpose of identifying any member of the Fund and for issue, custody
and replacement thereof;


(10) The fees to be levied for any of the purpose specified in the schedule ;


(11) Further powers, if any, which may be exercised by the officers

appointed under the Act ;

(12) The manner in which the sums transferred under section 27 to be

brought and credited to the Fund;


(13) The purposes for which the Fund may be utilised for the welfare of

Handicraft Artisans, or their dependents ;

(14) The procedure for defraying the expenditure incurred in the

administration of the Fund ;


(15) The procedure for paying pension, family pension;


(16) Any other matter which is to be provided for in the Scheme or which

may be necessary or proper for the purpose of implementing the
Scheme.

15


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