Section 15:
Functions of the Commission.
1[15. Functions of the Commission.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions of the
Commission shall generally be to 2[plan, promote, facilitate, organise] and assist in the establishment and
development of khadi and village industries in the rural area in coordination with other agencies engaged
in rural development wherever necessary.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the Commission may
take such steps as it may think fit,--
(a) to 3[plan and organise, directly or through specified agencies] training of persons employed or
desirous of seeking employment in khadi and village industries;
(b) to 4[build up, directly or through specified agencies] reserves of raw materials and implements
and 5[supply them or arrange supply of the raw materials and implements] to persons engaged or
likely to be engaged in production of handspun yarn or khadi or village industries at such rates as the
Commission may decide;
(c) to encourage and assist in the creation of common service facilities for the processing of raw
materials or semi-finished goods and for otherwise facilitating production and marketing of khadi or
products of village industries;
(d) to promote the sale and marketing of khadi or products of village industries or handicrafts and
for this purpose forge links with established marketing agencies wherever necessary and feasible;
(e) to encourage and promote research in the technology used in khadi and village industries,
including the use of non-conventional energy and electric power with a view to increasing
productivity, eliminating drudgery and otherwise enhancing their competitive capacity and to arrange
for dissemination of salient results obtained from such research;
(f) to undertake directly or through other agencies studies of the problems of khadi or village
industries;
(g) to 6[provide financial assistance, directly or through specified agencies,] to institutions or
persons engaged in the development and operation of khadi or village industries and guide them
through supply of designs, prototypes and other technical information for the purpose of producing
goods and services for which there is effective demand in the opinion of the Commission;
(h) to 7[undertake, directly or through specified agencies, experiments,] or pilot projects which in
the opinion of the Commission are necessary for the development of khadi and village industries;
(i) to establish and maintain separate organisations for the purpose of carrying out any or all of
the above matters;
(j) to promote and encourage co-operative efforts among the manufacturers of khadi or persons
engaged in village industries;
(k) to ensure genuineness and to set up standards of quality and ensure that products of khadi and
village industries do conform to the said standards, including issue of certificates or letters of
recognition to the concerned persons; and
(l) to carry out any other matters incidental to the above.]
8[Explanation.--For the purposes of clauses (a), (b), (g) and (h) of sub-section (2), the expression
"specified agencies" means the agencies which the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.]
Notes:
1 Subs. by Act 12 of 1987, s. 9, for section 15 (w.e.f. 24-7-1987).
2 Subs. by Act 10 of 2006, s. 10, for "plan, promote, organise" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
3 Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "plan and organise" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
4 Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "build up" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
5 Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "supply them" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
6 Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "provide financial assistance" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
7 Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for "undertake experiments" (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).
8 The Explanation ins. by Act 10 of 2006, s. 10 (w.e.f. 15-5-2006).