The Fund shall be applied by the Central Government to meet the expenditure incurred in connection with the measures which, in the opinion of that Government, are necessary or expedient to promote the welfare of persons employed in the iron ore mines ¹[, manganese ore mines and chrome ore mines], and in particular--
         (a) to defray the cost of measures for the benefit of persons employed in the iron ore mines or manganese ore mines ²[or chrome ore mines] directed towards--
             (i) the provision and improvement of public health and sanitation, the prevention of disease and the provision and improvement of medical facilities;
             (ii) the provision and improvement of water supplies and facilities for washing;
             (iii) the provision and improvement of educational facilities;
             (iv) the provision and improvement of housing and recreational facilities including standards of living, nutrition and amelioration of social conditions;
             (v) the provision of transport to and from the place of work;
             ³[(vi) the provision of family welfare, including family planning education and services];
         (b) to grant loan or subsidy to a State Government, a local authority or the owner of an iron ore mine or of a manganese ore mine ⁴[or of a chrome ore mine], in aid of any scheme approved by the Central Government for any purpose connected with the welfare of persons employed in iron ore mines or manganese ore mines ⁴[or chrome ore mines];
         (c) to pay annually grants-in-aid to such of the owners of iron ore mines or manganese ore mines ⁴[or chrome ore mines] who provide to the satisfaction of the Central Government welfare measures of the prescribed standard for the benefit of persons employed in their mines, so, however, that the amount payable as grants-in-aid to such owners shall not exceed--
             (i) the amount spent by them in the provision of welfare measures as determined by the Central Government or any person specified by it in this behalf, or
             (ii) such amount as may be prescribed,
whichever is less:
         Provided that no grant-in-aid shall be payable in respect of any welfare measures provided by the owner of an iron ore mine or of a manganese ore mine ⁴[or of a chrome ore mine] where the amount spent thereon determined as aforesaid is less than the amount prescribed in this behalf;
         (d) to meet the allowances, if any, of the members of the Advisory Committee and the Central Advisory Committee constituted under section 5 and section 6 respectively and the salaries and allowances, if any, of persons appointed under section 8;
         (e) any other expenditure which the Central Government may direct to be defrayed from the Fund.