Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Kerala Farmers' Welfare Fund Scheme.—(1) The Government shall, by notification in the Gazette, frame a Scheme for constituting a Fund under this Act for the welfare of farmers, to be called the 'Kerala Farmers’ Welfare Fund Scheme' and as soon as possible constitute a Fund in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the Scheme. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Scheme may provide for all or any of the matters specified in the Schedule. (3) The following shall be credited to the Fund, namely:- (i) arrears and interest received as per section 6; 18 This is a digitally signed Gazette. Authenticity may be verified through https://compose.kerala.gov.in/ (ii) contribution specified in section 8; (iii) amount in the Treasury Savings Bank Account under the “Kissan Abhiman Scheme” transferred under sub- section (1) of section 29; (iv) grants, loans or advances received through the Central Government, State Government, Local self Government Institutions, any institutions or organisations or Corporate Social Responsibility Fund as per the Companies Act, 2013 (Central Act 18 of 2013 ) etc. (v) amount given by the Government annually to the Fund, equivalent to the amount being given by the Government to the Agriculture Department for the implementation of Kissan Abhiman Scheme; (vi) amount mobilized through any legal means as per the decision of the Board to augment revenue of the Board; (vii) fee levied as per the scheme; (viii) amount received from the sale of Kerala Farmers' Welfare Fund Stamp, as a part of income generation; (ix) amounts sanctioned for the welfare of the farmers with the intention of environment protection, as per any law or Government order or sanctioned for the welfare of farmers by any other law or Government Order; (x) amount received as agricultural incentive as per section 9; (xi) any other amount to be credited to the fund as per the provisions of the Scheme. (4) The Fund shall vest in the Board and be administered by the Board as provided in this Act and Scheme. (5) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Scheme the Fund may be utilized for all or any of the following purposes, namely:- (a) for payment of pension to farmers who have became members of the Welfare fund by remitting contribution for not less than five years and have completed sixty years of age, at the rate fixed, on the basis of the contribution remitted and the number of years of remittance, as per the scheme: Provided that in the case of any farmer who has completed fifty six years of age on the date of commencement of this Act and has become a member as per sub-section (1) of section 4 and is remitting contribution for the succeeding years, pension may be paid at the eligible rate as per the Scheme, after he has completed the age of sixty years; (b) for payment of pension to the small scale marginal farmers who have completed sixty years of age and were receiving pension under the 'Kissan Abhiman Scheme', at the rate fixed by Government from time to time: 19 This is a digitally signed Gazette. Authenticity may be verified through https://compose.kerala.gov.in/ Provided that those persons who are members of any other welfare fund and are receiving pension and other benefits shall not be eligible to get the benefits under the Scheme; (c) for payment of fixed amount and pension to a person, who had been a member and remitted contribution for not less than five years, and discontinued his farming activities or unable to continue work due to ill health, at such rates fixed as per scheme on the basis of the contribution remitted and the number of years of remittance; (d) for payment of family pension and death benefits; (e) for payment of financial assistance to the member who is suffering from permanent physical/ mental disability; (f) for financial assistance to the members for treatment, for giving maternity benefits to women members, for financial assistance for marriage of women members or daughters of the members and for financial assistance for education of children of the members; (g) for giving a fixed amount at the rate specified in the scheme, at one time, to those members who have remitted contribution for twenty five years; (h) for giving compensation to the members or members of the family, as the case may be, for accident and death of members, accident and death due to natural calamity, such other distresses including death, physical disabilities and different types of poisoning due to attack of wild animals; (i) for refunding amount to those who had remitted contribution to the Fund, but not eligible for benefits due to the non completion of five years, at the rate that may be prescribed, and in the manner as may be prescribed; (j) for the day to day administrative expenses of the Board. (6) Board may invest the Fund in a profitable manner with the previous sanction of the Government and may frame new schemes in the sectors which deserve special attention. (7) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Scheme framed under sub-section (1) may provide for the matters specified in sub-section (5) and in the Schedule. (8) Government may, by notification, make any addition, amendments or variations to the scheme framed under this section, either prospectively or retrospectively. (9) The Scheme framed under this section shall be laid as soon as may be 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 successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislative Assembly makes any amendment in the Scheme or decides that the Scheme should not be made, the scheme shall, thereafter have effect only in such form as amended or be of no effect, as the case may be. However, that any such 20 This is a digitally signed Gazette. Authenticity may be verified through https://compose.kerala.gov.in/ amendment or annulment shall be without prejudice of the validity of anything previously done under that scheme.