(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, 2
(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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(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.