Kerala Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund Board
Encyclopedia
The Kerala Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund Board is a statutory entity created under the Kerala Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund Act of 1989.
The head office of the board is situated near the Talikavu temple at Kannur
(Cannanore).
The Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund is one among the 20 odd Welfare Fund Boards - a group of statutory bodies whose function is to provide social security benefits to employees in specified sectors. A Typical Welfare Fund Board administers a welfare fund, consisting of contributions from employers and employees from the specified sector, and a grant from the Government, typically equal to contributions from employees.
The Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund board has four offices:
The board provides social security
benefits to handloom workers who are members of the scheme. There are separate categories of memberships for employees of factories / establishments and self-employeed workers. Membership entails payment of - three Indian Rupees per month, while their employer (if employed) contributes six Rupees per month. Self employed persons contribute a sum of Rs. 5.00 per month. The State government contributes a sum equal to employees' share of the contribution collected by the board in a year. Such funds, along with the Cess
levied from textile dealers, constitutes the common fund of the board, which is utilised to provide various benefits to the workers.
The important benefits currently given are:
The fund is governed by the board of directors which is appointed by the Government of Kerala
. The staff of the board constitute both direct employees of the board and employees on deputation from the State Government.
The head office of the board is situated near the Talikavu temple at Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
(Cannanore).
The Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund is one among the 20 odd Welfare Fund Boards - a group of statutory bodies whose function is to provide social security benefits to employees in specified sectors. A Typical Welfare Fund Board administers a welfare fund, consisting of contributions from employers and employees from the specified sector, and a grant from the Government, typically equal to contributions from employees.
The Handloom Workers' Welfare Fund board has four offices:
- KannurKannurKannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
Office, having jurisdiction over KasaragodKasaragod districtKasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
, KannurKannurKannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
, and Wayanad Districts - KozhikodeKozhikodeKozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
Office, having jurisdiction over KozhikodeKozhikodeKozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, MalappuramMalappuramMalappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
and Palghat Districts - ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
Office, having jurisdiction over Trichur, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
, KottayamKottayamKottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Idukki and AlappuzhaAlappuzhaAlappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
districts - ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
office, having jurisdiction over ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, KollamKollamKollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
and Pathanimthitta districts
The board provides social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
benefits to handloom workers who are members of the scheme. There are separate categories of memberships for employees of factories / establishments and self-employeed workers. Membership entails payment of - three Indian Rupees per month, while their employer (if employed) contributes six Rupees per month. Self employed persons contribute a sum of Rs. 5.00 per month. The State government contributes a sum equal to employees' share of the contribution collected by the board in a year. Such funds, along with the Cess
Cess
The term cess generally means a tax. It is a term formerly more particularly applied to local taxation, and was the official term used in Ireland when it was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; otherwise, it has been superseded by "rate"...
levied from textile dealers, constitutes the common fund of the board, which is utilised to provide various benefits to the workers.
The important benefits currently given are:
- Education assistance to children of members, for education in High and Secondary (Plus two) Schools, Graduation and Post graduation in recognised institutions.
- Marriage benefits to children of members and female members.
- Maternity benefits to female members.
- Ex-gratia benefits to workers who are unable to continue employment on health grounds.
- Death benefit to close relatives or dependants (usually spouse and children) of a deceased member of the fund.
- PensionPensionIn general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
to workers who have been members for at least 3 years and discontinue employment on attainment of 60 years age. From 2008, the pension age has been lowered to 58 years.
The fund is governed by the board of directors which is appointed by the Government of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The staff of the board constitute both direct employees of the board and employees on deputation from the State Government.