(1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, frame a scheme to be called the Abkari Workers’ Welfare Fund Scheme for the establishment of a Fund under this Act for Abkari workers 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 contributions and gratuity specified in section 4;
(b) the amount borrowed by the Board under section 10;
(c) damages realised under section 20;
(d) grants or loans or advances made by the Government of India or the State Government or any institution;
(e) any donation from whatever source;
(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;
(b) for payment of provident fund;
(c) for payment of gratuity;
(d) for payment of family pension;
4
(e) for payment of financial assistance to a member who suffers from permanent disablement;
(f) for payment of loans or grants to a member to meet expenses for the marriage of children or in connection with disease or death of dependents or for the education of children or for construction or maintenance of houses;
(g) to provide for maternity benefits to women abkari workers who are not eligible for such benefits under any other law for the time being in force;
(h) to provide for distress relief to the family of a member affected by natural calamities or epidemics;
(i) to provide for the abkari workers and members of their families,—
(i) medical facilities;
(ii) education and vocational training and facilities for part-time employment;
(j) to provide for the establishment of nurseries and creches for the children of the abkari workers;
(k) for implementation of any other purpose 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 specified in sub-section (4) and in the schedule.
(6) The scheme shall 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 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 modification in the scheme, the scheme shall there after have effect only in such modified form; so however that any such modification shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under the scheme.