Section 8. Functions of the Board

8. Functions of the Board.— (1) It shall be the duty of the Board to promote the development of the[5] * * * silk industry by such measures as it thinks fit. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the measures referred to therein — may provide for (a)undertaking, assisting or encouraging scientific, technological and economic research; (b)devising means for improved methods of mulberry cultivation rearing, developing and distributing healthy silkworm seeds,[6] [reeling or, as the case may be, spinning of silkworm cocoons and silk waste], improving the quality and production of raw silk, if necessary, by making it compulsory for all raw silk to be marketed only after the same has been tested and graded in properly equipped raw silk conditioning houses; 7 (d) improving the marketing of raw silk; (e) the collection of statistics from such persons as may be prescribed; 1. Subsby the Act 42 of 2006, s. 6, for "The Central Government shall appoint from among the members of the Board, a ViceChairman who shall"(w.e.f 1.7.2007). 2.Subs. by s. 3, for"Vice-Chairman" (w.e.f. 1-7-2007). 3. Subs. by s. 3, ibid ., for "Chairman" (w.e.f. 1-7-2007). 4.Subsby s. 7, ibid ., for "The Central Government shallappoint a Secretary to the Board who shall"(w.e.f. 1-7-2007).