Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(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; 5 (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 sub- section (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. 6 Contribution to the fund.