THE ASSAM FAMINE RELIEF AND INSURANCE FUND ACT, 1948

ASSAM ACT XXVIII OF 1948 THE ASSA i\i FAMINE RELIEF AND INSURANCE FUND ACT, 1948 (Passed by the Assembly) [Received the assent of the Governor on the 21st December 1948] [Published in the Assam Gazette of the 29th Dece'!lber 1948] An Act to provide for the establishment and maintenance in the Province of Assam of a Fund called the Assam Famine Relief and Insurance Fund. Preamble. WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment and maintenance in the Province of Assam of a fund for expenditure upon relief of, and insurance against, distress caused by serious drought, flood, earthquake, fire, cyclone and other natural calamities in the said Province ; Short title, extent and commence­ ment. Definition. It is hereby enacted as follows :- 1. (1) This Act may be called the Assam Famine Relief and Insurance Fund Act, 1948. (2) It extends to the whole of Assam. (3) It shall come into force op such date as the Provin­ cial Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint. . 2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-"Fund" means the Assam Famine Relief and Insurance Fund established under section 3. Esta~~:h;he 3. On the commencement of this Act, the Provincial ~~~m Government shall establish in and for the Province of Assam Famine a Fund called the "Assam Famine Relief and Insurance Relief and Fund". Insurance Fund. The Fund shall consist of :- ( i) the contribution by the Provincial Government under section 4 ; (ii) any contribution by the Government of India ; (iii) such other sums as the Provincial Government may transfer from the unspent balance of the budget pro­ vision of any year under section 4 ; and (iv) donations, if any , by the public or by any institu- tion or association for the purposes mentioned in ..:;ection 5. I t . 1 · 4. As soon as may be after the commencement of this IU ia con- A h p . . I G h 11 k . . . 1 tribution to ct, t e rovmCia overnment s a ma e an m1t1a the Assam contribution to the Fund of the sum of three lakhs of Famine rupees provided under "54-A.-Famine Relief" in the ! Relief and Budget for the year 1948-49 or the unspent balance thereof nsurance . Fund. on the date of creat10n of the Fund and thereafter make an annual contribution of not less than rupees one lakh. Price 1 anna or 1 d. • • 2 Pu~pose for 5. Expenditure from the Fund shall not be incurred ;'~~~h ~~~ e~cept upon the relief of, and insurance against, famine and be utilized. distress caused by drought, flood, earthquake, fire, cyclone or other natural calamities in the said Province ; Provided that, if at any time, the total amount of the Fund excerds twenty lakhs of rupees, the excess may be utilized on protective irrigation works and other works for the prevention of famine or flood in the said Province. I nvestmei:it 6. The Provincial Government shall, from time to time, a~~m r~-mf invest or re-invest in Government securities all amounts and ~h! a':ou~t the interest accrued thereon to the credit of the Fund, not requir- which may not be immediately required for any of the ed. purposes mentioned in section 5. Accounts of 7. (1) The accounts of the Fund shall be made up at the F~nd the end of each financial year in a prof ·rma account which and makmg will be prescribed. up of the . deficiency in (2) If the accounts so made up m respect of any year the Fund. show that the balance at the credit of the Fund has reached a total of ten lakh~ of rupees, and if in respect ot any year thereafter the balance falls short of that amount the deficiency shall be made up by contril iution from the revenues of the Province : Provided that if the deficiency exceeds one lakh of rupees it .may be made up in annual instalments not exceeding one lakh each. Powers to 8. The Provincial Government may make rules for make rules. carrying out the purpose_s of this Act . • A. G. P. (Lcg.)No,2/49-775+25-·-12-5-1949.