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The Kerala Legislative Assembly has realised the potency of social welfare measures in achieving the goal of social justice and equality embedded in the ethos of democracy. Legislations benefiting various segments of the society have been made over the years.
The Kerala Money Lenders Act,1958 was intended to help the debtors from the clutches of usurious money-lenders. The Kerala Habitual Offenders Act, 1960 envisaged the registration of habitual offenders and contained provisions for imparting corrective training to them. By The Kerala Bosstal Schools Act, 1960 provisions were made for the detention of adolescent offenders in Borstal Schools for the purpose of giving instructions and training as are necessary for their reformation . The Kerala Gaming Act,1960 had provisions for the prevention of gaming and to impart punishment to persons conducting gaming business. The Kerala Agriculturist's Loans Act, 1961 provided for the payment of land development loans and also loans for the relief of distress, purchase of agricultural implements, motor and pump sets to agriculturists. The Kerala Essential Articles Control (Temporary Powers) Act,1961 gave powers to the Government for regulating or prohibiting the production supply and distribution of essential articles and trade and commerce. The Kerala Relief Undertakings (Special provisions) Act,1961 had provisions to enable the government to conduct or provide loan guarantee or financial assistance for the conduct of an industrial undertaking. The Kerala Corneal Grafting Act,1963 made provisions for the use of the eyes of deceased persons for therapeutic purposes. The Kerala Land Development Act,1963 aimed at unifying and amending the law relating to preparation and execution of land development schemes.The Kerala State Rural Development Act,1971 was enacted with a view to provide for the establishment of a Board for conducting development schemes in rural areas. The Kerala State Housing Board Act,1971 contained provisions for the organised direction and planning in the preparation and execution of housing and improvement schemes and also for the establishment of a State Housing Board By The Kerala Children Act, 1972 provisions were made for the development of delinquent children and to give necessary training for their reformation. The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act,1975 abolished the bonded labour system prevalent among the poor members of the Scheduled Tribes in Malabar. The Kerala Slum Areas Improvement and Clearance Act, 1981 contained extensive provisions for the improvement and development of slums. The Assembly passed the Kerala Advocate Welfare Fund Act, 1980 to meet the demands of Advocates.
The Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 and The Kerala Women’s Commission Act,1995 need special mention.
The Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes Act,1993 provided for the Constitution of a State Commission for Backward Classes other than the SCs and STs. The main functions of the Commission were to examine requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class and hear complaints of over inclusion or under inclusion of any backward class and to tender advice to Government in these matter.
The Kerala Women's Commission Act, 1995 was another important legislation in this area. This Act provided for the consititution of a Commission to improve the status of women in the State and to enquire into the unfair practices affecting women and to facilitate the redressal of their grievances.
Other important legislations to be mentioned in this connection are the Kerala Essential Articles Control Act,1986, The Kerala Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1986, The Kerala Command Areas Development Act, 1986, The Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Act, 1993 etc.
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Social Welfare