—Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any rules made by the Central Government in that behalf, the Employees’ State Insurance Fund shall be expended only for the following purposes, namely:—

(i) payment of benefits and provision of medical treatment and attendance to insured persons 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 Act and defraying the charges and costs in connection therewith;

(ii) payment of fees and allowances to members of the Corpora­tion, the Standing Committee and the Medical Benefit Council, the Regional Boards, Local Committees and Regional and Local Medical Benefit Councils;

(iii) 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 servants 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 Act;

(iv) establishment and maintenance of hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions and the provision of medical and other ancil­lary services for the benefit of insured persons and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families;

(v) 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 and, where the medical benefit is extended to their families, including the cost of any building and equipment, in accordance with any agreement entered into by the Corporation;

(vi) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of auditing the accounts of the Corporation and of the valuation of its assets and liabilities;

(vii) defraying the cost (including all expenses) of the Em­ployees’ Insurance Courts set up under this Act;

(viii) payment of any sums under any contract entered into for the purposes of this Act by the Corporation or the Standing Committee or by any officer duly authorised by the Corporation or the Standing Committee in that behalf;

(ix) payment of sums under any decree, order or award of any Court or Tribunal against the Corporation or any of its officers or servants 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;

(x) defraying the cost and other charges of instituting or de­fending any civil or criminal proceedings arising out of any action taken under this Act;

(xi) defraying expenditure, within the limits prescribed, on measures for the improvement of the health, welfare of insured persons and for the rehabilitation and re-employment of insured persons who have been disabled or injured; and

(xii) such other purposes as may be authorised by the Corporation with the previous approval of the Central Government.