Application for assistance

(1) Any person who claims to be a destitute or poor person may make an application to the prescribed authority in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the prescribed authority shall cause such inquiry to be made as it deems fit to verify the eligibility of the applicant for assistance. (3) If the prescribed authority is satisfied that the applicant is a destitute or poor person, it may sanction such assistance as may be prescribed. (4) If the prescribed authority is not satisfied, it may reject the application for reasons to be recorded in writing. (5) An order passed under sub-section (4) shall be final. (1) The State Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for— (i) the eligibility criteria for destitute and poor persons for receiving assistance; (ii) the procedure for making applications for assistance; (iii) the authority or officer competent to sanction and distribute the assistance; (iv) the scale and nature of assistance to be provided; (v) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed under this Act. For sub-section (2-A) of Section 4 of the Principal Act, the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely :- "(2-A) The Collector shall apportion and deposit twenty percent of the amount of collection made by a market committee, into the State Destitute Fund, and the amount collected in such fund shall be utilised for any district in such manner as may be prescribed, and the Commissioner/Director, Panchayat and Social Welfare Chhattisgarh shall operate and maintain proper account of such fund, and the account of such fund shall be audited by the Director, Local Fund Audit, Chhattisgarh. (2-AA) All moneys of the State Destitute Fund shall be deposited in a co-operative bank or any Bank specified in the first Schedule to the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (No. 5 of 1970), as a corresponding new bank or in post office saving bank: (2-AAA) The amount remaining after apportionment under sub-section (2) and (2-A) shall be utilised for the purpose of setting up and maintaining homes for destitutes and indigent persons in the area falling within the jurisdiction of the market committee concerned: Provided that the State Government may, having regard to the need of such homes in any other areas, order the utilisation of not exceeding ten percent of the remaining amount for setting up and maintaining homes for destitutes and indigent persons in such other area outside the jurisdiction of the market committee concerned."