State Act

The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes Corporation Act,1979

16. Functions of Corporation.- (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, it shall be the primary duty of the Corporation to undertake the task of economic uplift of the members of the scheduled castes 2[and the scheduled tribes] in the State. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, such function shall include the power- (i) to plan, promote, undertake, and assist programmes of agricultural development, animal husbandry, marketing, processing, supply and storage of agricultural produce, small scale industries, village industries, cottage industries, and such other trade, business or activity which will enable 1[the members of the scheduled castes or the scheduled tribes] to earn a better living and help them to improve their standard of living as may be approved in this behalf by the Government; (ii) to undertake programmes for setting up employment oriented industries, cottage and small scale industries etc. by providing technical know-how, managerial assistance, financial assistance and any other form of assistance which may be required in achieving the above objectives; (iii) to provide financial assistance to the members of 2[the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes or the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes organizations] by advancing to them loans and/or loan toward margin money for any of the purposes specified above either directly or through such agency, organization or institution as may be approved by the Board; (iv) to guarantee loans taken by the members of 3[the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes or the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes organizations] from any financial/ banking institutions; (v) to act as the agent of the Government of Himachal Pradesh or Central Government for procurement, supply and distribution of agricultural or other produce or other goods as and when required to do so; (vi) to provide facilities for survey, research or study the problems relating to cottage and village industries, small scale business to assess potentiality of village, cottage and small scale industries and scope of their development with a view to promoting such industries and business for the purpose of providing employment for the members of the scheduled castes 4[and the scheduled tribes]; (vii) to arrange for publicity and marketing of the finished products manufactured by the 5[the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes or the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes organizations] in the small scale industries; (viii) to give grants and subsidies to the members of 1[the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes or the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes organizations] on behalf of the State or Central Government or any other Government institution; (ix) to borrow money subject to such conditions as the Board may specify; (x) to receive gifts, grants and donations. (xi) to issue bonds and debentures; (xii) to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange, hundies, bills, warrants, debentures and other negotiable instruments; (xiii) to invest or deposit surplus funds of the Corporation in Government securities or in such other manner as the Board may decide; (xiv) to enter into contracts; and (xv) to discharge such other functions as may be prescribed or as are supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the functions conferred on it under this Act.