Vidhi Codex

The Kerala Fishermen Welfare Societies Act, 1980

The Kerala Fishermen Welfare Societies Act, 1980

General198036 sections

The Kerala Fishermen Welfare Societies Act, 1980, establishes and regulates local welfare societies in designated fishing villages across the state of Kerala. It applies directly to active, adult fishermen residing or working in these areas. The law matters because it creates a legal framework to improve the social and economic conditions of traditional coastal fishing communities. Through these official societies, fishermen gain access to affordable fishing equipment, credit, storage, marketing facilities, accident relief, and retirement benefits. By empowering local committees to manage welfare funds under direct government supervision, the act actively supports the livelihoods and social security of coastal communities.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  3. 2. Definitions.
  4. 3. Declaration of fisheries villages.
  5. 4. Fishermen's Welfare Societies.
  6. 5. Members of societies.
  7. 6. Expulsion of members.
  8. 7. Votes of members.
  9. 8. Management of Societies.
  10. 9. Constitution of committee.
  11. 10. Disqualifications and removal of members of committee.
  12. 11. Acts of committee not to be invalidated by informality, vacancy, etc.
  13. 12. Annual general body meeting.
  14. 13. Special general body meetings.
  15. 14. Functions of committee.
  16. 15. Secretary of committee.
  17. 16. Powers of Director to cancel decision of committee.
  18. 17. Duties and functions of societies.
  19. 18. Appointment of staff of society.
  20. 19. Grants and loans by Government.
  21. 20. Power of society to borrow.
  22. 21. Investment of funds.
  23. 22. Restriction on borrowings.
  24. 23. Restrictions on loans.
  25. 24. First charge of society on certain assets.
  26. 25. Constitution of Fund.
  27. 26. Inquiry by Director.
  28. 27. Supervision and inspection.
  29. 28. Powers of revision of Director and Government.
  30. 29. Mode of recovery of sums payable to society.
  31. 30. Accounts and audit.
  32. 31. Directions by Government.
  33. 32. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  34. 33. Power to make rules.
  35. 34. Power to make bye-laws.
  36. 35. Repeal and saving.

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