Section 9: Administration of fund.

(1) The fund shall be administered by the Committee. (2) In the administration of the fund, the Committee shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, — (a) receive applications through the District Registrar (Administration) for admission or re-admission to the fund, and dispose of such applications within ninety days from the date of receipt thereof; (b) receive applications from the members of the fund, their nominees or legal representatives, as the case may be, for payment out of the fund, conduct such enquiry as it deems necessary, for the disposal of such applications, and dispose of the applications within five months from the date of receipt thereof; (c) record in the minutes book of the Committee its decisions on the applications; (d) the Committee shall provide the following benefits, after due verification as may be prescribed and pay the amount to such applicants, at the rates specified in the Schedule, subject to the availability of the fund for — (i) accidental death benefit or permanent disability or other partial disability benefit of a member of the fund; (ii) natural death benefit of a member of the fund; (iii) marriage assistance to the member’s marriage or to his son or daughter’s marriage; (iv) maternity benefit to a female member of the fund; (v) spectacles benefit to a member of the fund; (vi) educational benefit to the children of a member of the fund; (vii) pensionary benefit to former members of the fund; and (viii) funeral assistance to a member of the fund or to his or her spouse; (e) the Committee shall send such periodicals and annual reports to the Government, as may be prescribed; (f) communicate to the applicants, through registered post, the decisions of the Committee in respect of applications for admission or re-admission to the fund or claims to the benefit of the fund; and (g) do such other acts as are, or may be, required to be done under this Act and the rules made thereunder.