Section 25. Employees' State Insurance Fund

25. Employees' State Insurance Fund. —(1) All contributions and user charges paid under this Chapter and all other moneys received on behalf of the Corporation shall be paid into a fund (hereinafter referred to as the Employees' State Insurance Fund) which shall be held and administered by the Corporation for the purposes of this Code: Provided that the user charges collected from the other beneficiaries referred to in section 44 shall be deemed to be contribution and shall form part of Employees' State Insurance Corporation. (2) The Corporation may accept grants, donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Fund and gifts from the Central or any State Government, local authority, or any individual or body whether incorporated or not, for all or any of the purposes of this Chapter. (3) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Code and to any rules or regulations made in this behalf, all moneys accruing or payable to the said Fund shall be deposited in such bank or banks as may be approved by the Central Government to the credit of an account styled the account of the Employees' State Insurance Fund. (4) The Employees State Insurance Fund or any other money which is held by the Corporation shall be deposited or invested in the manner prescribed by the Central Government and the account referred to in sub-section (3) shall be operated by such officers as may be authorised by the Committee constituted under sub-section (3) of section 5 (hereinafter referred to as the Standing Committee) with the approval of the Corporation. — 26. Purposes for which Employees' State Insurance Fund may be expended. Subject to the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations relating thereto, made under this Code, the Employees' State Insurance Fund shall be expended only for the following purposes, namely:— (a) payment of benefits and provision of medical treatment and attendance to Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, the provision of such medical benefit to their families, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations relating thereto and defraying the charges and costs in connection therewith; (b) payment of fees and allowances to members of the Corporation, the Standing Committee, the Medical Benefit Committee or other Committees thereof; (c) payment of salaries, leave and joining time allowances, travelling and compensatory allowances, gratuities and compassionate allowances, pensions, contributions to provident or other benefit fund of officers and staff of the Corporation and meeting the expenditure in respect of offices and other services set up for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Code relating to this Chapter; (d) establishment and maintenance of hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions and the provision of medical and other ancillary services for the benefit of Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families; (e) payment of contributions to any State Government, local authority or any private body or individual, towards the cost of medical treatment and attendance provided to Insured Persons referred to in section 28 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, their families, including the cost of any building and equipment, in accordance with any agreement entered into by the Corporation; (f) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of auditing the accounts of the Corporation and of the valuation of its assets and liabilities; (g) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of the Employees' Insurance Courts set up under this Chapter; (h) payment of any sums under any contract entered into for the purposes of this Code by Corporation or the Standing Committee or by any officer duly authorised by the Corporation or the Standing Committee in that behalf; (i) payment of sums under any decree, order or award of any Court or Tribunal against the Corporation or any of its officers or staff for any act done in the execution of his duty or under a compromise or settlement of any suit or other legal proceeding or claim instituted or made against the Corporation; (j) defraying the cost and other charges of instituting or defending any civil or criminal proceedings arising out of any action taken under this Code relating to this Chapter; (k) defraying expenditure, within the limits prescribed by the Central Government after consultation with the Corporation, on measures for the improvement of the health and welfare of Insured Persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of Insured Persons referred to in section 28 who have been disabled or injured; and (l) such other purposes as may be authorised by the Corporation with the previous approval of the Central Government.