Assam Mobile Theatre (Regulation and Artists' Welfare Fund) Act, 2010

No: 26 Dated: Sep, 07 2010

THE ASSAM MOBILE THEATRE (REGULATION AND ARTISTS’ WELFARE FUND) ACT, 2010

ASSAM ACT NO. XXVI OF 2010

    An Act to provide for a better regulation of Mobile Theatres to check haphazard growth of Mobile Theatres and constitution of Artists’ Welfare Fund, for the purpose of maintenance of cultural standards and welfare of the Artists in the State of Assam including the Hills Districts and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

    Preamble:- Whereas it is expedient to provide for a better regulation of Mobile Theatres to check haphazard growth of Mobile Theatres and constitution of Artists’ Welfare Fund for the purpose of maintenance of cultural standards and welfare of the Artists in the State of Assam including the Hills Districts and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

    It is hereby enacted in the Sixty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows

1. Short title, extent and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Assam Mobile Theatre ( Regulation and Artists’ Welfare Fund) Act, 2010.

(2) It extends to the whole of Assam including the hills Districts.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different areas.

2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the subject or context,-

(a) “Artists” means any actor, singer, painter, musician, dancer, choreographer, costume designer, dramatist, script writer and other technical and non technical staff of the Mobile Theatre who are directly involved in the live performance or facilitate the live performance by the Mobile Theatre which term shall also include the directors in different performing areas or branches of the Mobile Theatre ;

(b) “Committee” means the Artists’ Welfare Fund Committee constituted under section 13 ;

(c) “Director” means the Director of Cultural Affairs, Assam ;

(d) “equipment” means electrical items for lighting, generator seit, sound system, musical instruments, laser instruments, projector and other items having mechanical process involved in it ;

(e) “existing Mobile Theatre” means a Mobile Theatre which is in existence and has been engaged in making live dramatic and cultural performance in the State of Assam on the date of coming into force of this A ct;

(f) “Fund” means the Artists’ Welfare Fund constituted under section 11 ;

(g) “Government” means the Government of Assam in the Cultural Affairs Department;

(h) “infrastructure” means the stages, settings, pandel, tents, sheds, screens, chairs, gallery and other items which are essential for live performance by a Mobile Theatre ;

(i) “Mobile Theatre” means a theatre group engaged in the business of live dramatic and other cultural performances in the State of Assam in consideration of monetary payment to them, performing such activities in different places on a temporary basis, having at least two stages with light and sound system erected temporarii. inside a temporary pandel with sitting arrangement for audience in front of the stages, having adequate number of artists and other staff, both technical and non technical, either casual or regular, in its pay roll and having fixed land and property for the use by the Mobile Theatre in the name of the Mobile Theatre or the producer as the case may be, and the words “Mobile Theatre Groups” shall be construed accordingly;

(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this A ct;

(k) “producer” means any person, group of persons, body or firm who produces, establishes, runs,- operates, or sets up a Mobile Theatre and is solely responsible for its finance, maintenance, management and payment to the artists and other staff including other ancillary matters connected with the running of the Mobile Theatre group concerned;

(l) “Registered Mobile Theatre” means a Mobile Theatre group registered under section 3;

(m) “section” means a section of this A ct;

(n) “year” means the year commencing on the first day of April of a year ending with the 31st day of March of the succeeding year.