LexThe Assam Handicraft Artsans Welfare Fund Act, 1998 (Single Document)
Assam · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actASSAM 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
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.
Preamble.
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:-
Short title,
extent and
commencement.
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 b e 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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(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.
Handicraft
Artisans
Welfare Fund
Scheme.
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 mat ters 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 t he 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 previous ly done under the
Scheme.
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Contribution to
the fund.
4. (1) Every Handicraft Artisan shall contribute to the Fund one rupee each
per month.
(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 cont ribute 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 co ntribute
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.
(7) Where the amount of any contributio n 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.
Modification of
the Scheme.
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 de cide 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 o f
anything previously done under that notification.
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Constitution of
the Board.
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, Ha ndicraft 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.
(b) Four persons representing Co -Operative Society and Non -
Governmental Organisation.
(c) Four offic ial 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.
(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.
Terms of office
of Directors.
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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(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.
Removal of non-
official
Directors.
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 t hree years from the date of his removal unless
otherwise ordered by the Government.
(3) A non-official Director of the Board remo ved under clause (b) of the
sub-section (1) shall not be eligible for reappointment u ntil he is
declared by an order of the Government to be no longer ineligible.
Appointment of
officer and staff.
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 oth er 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
(b) fifty percent shall be filled in accordance with the procedure laid
down in the rules as may be prescribed.
Power of the
Board to
borrow.
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.
Determination
of amount due.
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 prod ucer 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 th e 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 India n
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 w ithin
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 author ised by him under sub -
section (4) and make such enquiry and pass such orders as they deem
fit:
10
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 s ub-section
without giving the person who may be affected there by an opportunity
of being heard.
Provisional
assessement and
collection
contribution.
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 u nder sub -section (1) by an employer or dealer or
producer of Handicraft products shall be for a year.
Mode of
recovery of
money.
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.
Priority of
payment of
contribution
over other debts.
14. Where any employer of dealer or producer of Handicr aft 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.
Employer not to
reduce wages
etc.
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 shal l be deemed to be a public serva nt 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 non -
compliance, 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.
(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.
Offences by
companies.
18. (1) Where an offence under t his 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 lia ble 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 excerci sed 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 co nsent 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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Explanation :- For the purpose of this section :-
(a) “Company” means any body corporate and includes a firm, Co -
operative Society or other Association of Individuals, Non -
Governmental Organisations.
(b) “Officer o f the Company” means Managing Director, Directo r,
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.
Power to recover
damages.
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.
Protection for
acts done in
good faith.
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.
Direction by the
Government.
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.
Power to order
enquiry.
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.
Power to
supersede the
Board.
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 Ac t or the Scheme or
has exceeded or abused its powers, the Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, super sede 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.
(3) On the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the
notification issued unde r sub -section (1) the Government shall
reconstitute the Board in the manner provided in Section 6.
Audit of
Accounts of the
Board and
remuneration of
Auditors.
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.
Annual Report,
Audited
Statement of
Accounts.
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 rep ort is received, cause
the same together with the audited statement of the accounts to be laid
on the floor of Assam Legislative Assembly.
Bar of
Jurisdiction of
Civil Court.
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 Di rector of Industries or any officer
authorised by the Director of Industries or the Chief Executive Officer or any
officer authorised by the Board.
Special
provision for
transfer of
accumulation
from welfare
funds
established by
any Acts or
Agreement.
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.
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.
Power to make
rules.
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 Handicr aft 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;
15
(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 me mber 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 formu lated 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.