Cap. 318 ст. 131Functions of the Welfare Committee.

(1) The functions of the Welfare Committee shall be -

(a) to administer the funds entrusted to it by Government, for the benefit of -

(i) inmates of state-financed institutions for medical care where, notwithstanding the fact that such inmate has been medically discharged, the person remains a resident and of such other inmates as are designated for the purpose by the Minister;

(ii) residents of state-owned hostels for the care and welfare of the elderly as are specified by the Minister by notice in the Gazette; and

(iii) recipients of home-care/home-help services that are provided by Government for the elderly comprising mainly their daily shopping needs and personal errands, bed-making, laundering, drying and ironing of clothes, limited personal attention, such as dressing-up and washing, as may be required in the circumstances of the case, general household cleaning, and, where specifically requested by the recipient of such service, cooking and feeding;

(b) to advise the Minister on any matter referred to in the foregoing paragraphs of this sub-article, and on any other matter concerning the welfare of the categories of persons referred to in paragraph (a) as the Minister may refer to it.

(2) In exercising its functions the Committee may establish subsidiary committees, and such committees shall, as far as possible, include persons representative of the categories referred to in article 130(1), provided that such subsidiary committees shall be chaired by a member of the Committee.

(3) In administering funds entrusted to it, the Committee shall keep such system of accounts and shall adopt such procedures for the custody and disbursement of moneys entrusted to it as shall be approved by the Accountant General and all books, receipts and records kept for this purpose shall, at all times, be open to inspection by the Director, the Accountant General, the Auditor General and any other public officer whom the Minister appoints for this purpose.

(4) The Committee shall utilize all funds entrusted to it for the care, welfare and benefit of the categories of persons referred to in sub-article (1)(a): Provided that -

(i) such part of such funds as may be approved by the Minister may be utilized by the Committee for its own expenses; and

(ii) such part of such funds as may be directed by the Minister from time to time may be utilized for such purpose or class of purposes as the Minister may, for the benefit of the aforesaid categories, determine.

(5) The Minister may give to the Committee directives of a general nature on the policy to be adopted by it.

(6) The Committee shall, not later than two months after the 1st day of January of any one year, submit to the Minister a report on its activities for the previous calendar year, together with a statement showing details of the expenditure incurred during that year, together with a statement showing details of the funds entrusted and made available to the Committee and any balance of such funds remaining at the end of the said year.