1. Name :

The association shall be called Akhil Bhartiya Dhobi Mahasangh, hereinafter Mahasangh. This Mahasangh shall also be called All India Washermen's Federation as its English Version.

2. Membership :

Any person belonging to washerman, Rajaka, Dhobi community in different names in different regions who attains the age of 18 years and who is a member of any of the alffliated/federated organisations of washermen with identical aims and objects and which agrees in writing to be bound by the Memorandum and Rules & Regulations of the Mahasangh, is eligible to be member of the Mahasangh. Students and youths of age between 14 and 18 years. may be enrolled in Students, Youth and cultural Committees. The affiliated/federated organisations shall have to pay Rs. 25.00 each as the annual affiliation fee together with the amount of annual subscription of all ordinary members of the Organisation @ 5 Paise per head to Mahasangh. The affiliated organisation as per its strength and activities will send one or more (to be decided by the Working Committee) elected delegates to National Council of the Mahasangh provided that the total number of delegates of States and Union territories will not exceed 300 (STATES : Andra Pradesh - 20, Assam - 7, Bihar - 26, Gujrat - 12, Haryana - 5, Himachal Pradesh - 3, Jammu & Kashmir - 4, Kerala - 10, Madhya Pradesh - 18, Maharashtra - 22, Manipur - 2, Meghalaya - 2, Mysore - 13, Nagaland - 2, Orissa - 10, Punjab - 7, Rajasthan - 12, Tamil Nadu - 19, Tripura - 2, Uttar Pradesh - 40, West Bengal - 20,

UNION TERITORIES :

Andaman & Nicobar Islands - 1, Arunachal Pradesh - 2, Chandigarh - 2, Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 2, Delhi - 10, Goa, Daman & Diu - 2, Laccadive, Minicoy Amindivi Islands - 1, Mizoram - 2 and Pondicherry - 2 and outgoing Central Working Committee's nomination 20=Total 300). The variation and re-allotment of quota of delegates of States and Union Territories as per population, strength and activities may be decided by the outgoing Central Working Committee. These 300 delegates afterwards called members will form the National Council with supreme power to elect Working Committee and take all final decisions. In absence of affiliated/federated organisations, direct ordinary member with annual subscription of Re. 1.00 (to be divided-Block/Primary 35 paise. Tehsil-subdivisional-20 paise, District-20 paise, State-15 paise and National-10 paise) may be enrolled.

3. Class of Members :

Patrons, Life Members, National Council Member and Ordinary Member.

a) One or more persons may be elected Patrons in the General Council meeting.

b) Any person qualified to be member, by paying Rs. 250.00 or more at a time shall be elected a life member of the Mahasangh by the Working Committee.

c) Any person qualified to be member, being elected delegate by the respective organisation affiliated to Mahasangh and by paying annual subscription of Rs. 5.00 will be a member of the National Council of the Mahasangha, Members of the Central Working Committee will pay Rs. 10.00 each as annual subscription, Considering financial aspects and activities some members may, in very rare cases, be exepmted from financial obligation by Working Committee.

d) Any person qualified to be member of any affiliated organisation will be regarded as ordinary member of the Mahasangh if annual subscription of 5 paise is received through the respective organisations.

4. Cessation of Membership :

Any member shall cease to be member on his/her a) death, b) resignation from membership by a letter, c) being insane or insolvent d) absence in three consecutive meetings of the Working Committee without any leave or reasonalble ground, e) doing any harm to the Mahasangh f) misappropriation of money or property of the Mahasangh g) working against the aims, objects and intarest of the Mahasangh h) Violating rules and regulations of the Mahasangha i) being defaulter for specified period, j) conviction of any offence in connection of the conduct of the Mahasangh or of any offence involving moral turpitude.

An affiliated organisation will lose its affiliation on its non-renewal of annual affiliation, doing any harn to the Mahasangh, failing to maintain accounts, registers and records and violating rules and regulations of the Mahasangh.

5. Register of Members :

The Mahasangh shall maintain a Register of members of the National Council containing names, addresses, occupations, dates of admission and/or cessation. The Register will be kept open for inspection of members of Mahasangh on requisition. The Registers of the ordinary members will be maintained by the respective federated/affiliated or the State organisations.

6. Rights and obligations of Members :

a) Any member of the National Council has the right to elect and to be elected in any election of the Mahasangh, b) to submit suggestions for discussion to the Working Committee and c) to inspect the accounts of the Mahasangh.

7. Structure of the Mahasangh :

The Mahasangh, a federal and unitary types combined organisation will comprise of National Council, Central Working Committee, State Organising/Advisory Committee, State Committees in absence of federating Units, Sub-Committees of Students and Youths, Women, Cultural, Employment and others set up by Working Committee and other branch units at various levels and federated units. All the affiliated/federated units shall mention in their important documents and papers as "Affiliated to Akhil Bhartiya Dhobi Mahasangh" or its English version - "All India Washermen's Federation."

8. Composition and Election of the Working Committee :

a) Central Working Committee - President-1, Sr. Vice-President-5, Vice-President-5, General Secretary-1, Additional General Secretary-5, State Secretary-20, Treasurer-1, Accountant-1, Secretary-1, Propaganda Secretary-1, Members-10.

b) State Organising/Advisory Committee - All the delegates/Members of National Council from the State and other elected members making total number 200 and 100 respectively will form State or Union Territory Committee with at least one President, two Senior Vice President, eight Vice Presidents, one General Secretary, eight Secretaries, one Treasurer and twenty members of State/U. Territory Executive Committee. The question of setting up such Organising/Advisory Committee of this Mahasangh at District, Sub-Division (Taluka), Tehsil (Police Stn.) or other levels and the shares of income will be decided later on by Working Committee.

9. Meetings :

Working Committee will meet at least twice a year at such a place and time President or General Secretary may determine. One third members of the Working Committee or Council may requisition the meeting of the Working Committee or Council.

10. Notice :

One month's notice of the meeting of the Working Committee specifying place, time and general nature of work and business to be transacted shall be given to every member of the Working Committee. Emergent meeting may be called on 14 days' notice. 45 days' notice calling Annual General/Special General Meeting of the National Council will be served. days' notice, 45 days' notice calling Annual General/Special General Meeting of the National Council will be served.

11. Quorum :

One sixth members of the Working Committee and the National Council, one fifth members of the State, District, Sub-Division (Taluka), Tehshil (Police Station) organising/Advisory Committees if so formed will form the quorum of the meeting. The adjourned meeting will require no quorum.

12. Procedure of the meeting :

The President or in his absence the Senior Vice President or Vice President or in their absence one member elected by the members present will preside over the meeting. All issues will be decided by the majority of votes, The President or Chairman of the meeting will have casting vote in case of equality of votes.

13. Powers of duties of the Working Committee :

The Working Committee shall have general powers of supervision and conduct over all the affairs of the Mahasangh and in particular shall discharge the following duties : (a) to summon annual general meeting, (b) to appoint Sub-Committees with such powers and duties as may be considered necessary (c) to accept donation, gift, subscription, movable and immovable property for object of the Mahasangh, (d) to sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of and deal with all or any part of the property of the Mahasangh as deemed necessary, (e) to keep proper accounts of the Mahasangh and open bank account in one or more scheduled Banks.

14. Safe Custody of the Fund :

The Working Committee shall be responsible for the safe custody of the Funds and the assets of the Mahasangh. The Fund shall be kept in the Scheduled Banks. The Bank account will be jointly operated by any two of the Treasurer, President, General Secretary and any office bearer decided by Working Committee. The Treasurer, General Secretary and President may keep Rs. 100.00 in cash in hand each.

15.Books of Accounts and Inspection of :

The books of accounts and other statutory books shall be kept at the registered office and shall be open to inspection of the members of the Working Committee during usual office hours and the same shall be open to inspection of the members at such time and place as the Working Committee directs on a written request by any member.

16. The Accounting or Official Year :

The Accounting and official year of the Mahasangh with be the English Calender year. The life of the Working Committee and Council will be three English Calender years.

17. General Meetings :

(a) The Mahasangh shall hold annual general meeting at least in every year and not more than 18 months shall elapse between two successive annual general meetings, Tri-annual general meeting of the National Council electing the Working Committee shall be held within six months or one year in case of emergency of the expiry of the life of the Working Committee. Special General meetings may be held on specific issues.

(b) The business to be transacted in the annual general meeting : i) to confirm the minutes of the last annual general meeting: ii) to adopt the report of the working of the Mahasangh for the previous year ended. iii) to pass audited accounts for the said year, iv) to appoint qualified auditor, and v) in tri-annual general meeting to elect President and other office-bearers of the Working Committee.

(c) The General Secretary will convence a Special General Meeting within 60 days of requisition notice.

18. Duities of Office-bearers :

a) President shall (i) preside over all the meetings of the Mahasangha (ii) advise the Mahasangh on all points of dispute and generally look after the interest of the Mahasangh (iii) take all the disciplinary actions such as removal, dismissal etc. or suspend any lower stage Committees in consultation with the Working Committee b) General Secretary shall (i) convene all meetings of the Mahasangh (ii) maintain minute books of all meetings (iii) issue General circulars and notices (iv) receive all applications for affiliation/membership and place before Working Committee (v) sign all receipts of all sums received as subscriptions, donations etc. (vi) sign all bills for payment (vii) transact all other business subject to the directions of the Working Committee.

19. Appeals :

All complaints and appeals shall lie with immediate higher branch or Working Committee as the case may be and decisions of the Central Working Committee shall be final.

20. Suit or legal proceedings for or against the Mahasangh shall be instituted/defended by the General Secretary or any other authorised person on behalf of the Mahasangh.

21. Alteration of Rules and Regulations :

The Working Committee shall have powers to make such Bye laws and Rules and Regulations as may be considered necessary in the interest of the Mahasangh. These Rules and Regulations may be altered, modified, rescinded or added to by Special General Meeting of the National Council called for the purpose, by three-fourths majority of the members present at such meeting.

22. Dissolution of the Mahasangh :

The Mahasangh may be dissolved by a resolution to that effect passed by the three-fourths of the members of the Council of the Mahasangh present in the Special General meeting. The said meeting shall also decide the manners of disbursement of the funds and assets of the Mahasangh, if any, after dissolution.