Constitution of the Society

(As amended up to September 2006)
1. The Society shall be called the Soil Conservation Society of India (SCSI).
2. Whereas sustainability of production of food, fibre, fodder, fuelwood, timber and other useful biomass for the growing needs of India's population and also for preserving the human environments depends upon the continued health and strength of the productive base, i.e. the soil; and whereas the soil and land of the country are degrading at an alarming rate under faulty land use practices and absence of the needed care; Now therefore, it has become necessary to bring this situation to the notice of the Indian public and the Central and State Governments, and start ameliorating processes through various programmes. Bringing about the needed awareness about the state of the national soil and the land resource and initiating or causing to be initiated such action programmes as would reverse the land degradation processes , and building a strong soil resource base for useful biomass production, shall, therefore be the aim of the Soil Conservation Society of India. Objectives
3. The objectives of the Society shall be to promote:
(a) Survey of relevant natural resources of the country viz. climate, land, water, plants, animals and human resources, in a systematic manner, in units of appropriate watersheds using , among other conventional methods, the modem techniques of remote sensing, computerized information base for preventing and control of land degradation and development of production and protection programmes in the upstream as well as the downstream zones of the watersheds.
(b) The spread of knowledge of sound soil and water conservation and management practices by all suitable means so as to prevent and control land degradation, manage rainwater and runoff and serve as strong foundation for all sustainable production systems from the land.
(c) Bringing about an integrated approach by the people and the Government on these problems with consequential coordination in direction and execution of all matters relating to soil and water conservation and management. This coordination will be of special significance in regard to legislative and executive policy of the Central and State Governments affecting the management of agriculture, forestry, irrigation, animal husbandry, land management, rural development, environmental protection, and other resource uses and conservation programmes.
(d) Spreading appreciation of the wide benefits of sound soil andwater conservation practices in the effective control of soil erosion, sediment discharge and floods and increase of life of the storage reservoirs in all irrigation and water resource development projects with special reference to integrated development schemes of river valleys encompassing watershed management in the upper valley and proper water management in the lower valley.
Programmes
4. To achieve these aims and objectives, the Society shall:
(i) Publish one or more journals, bulletins and special issues.
(ii) Compile or publish books, pamphlets, etc.
(iii) Convene Symposia and Conferences, organize popular lectures, excursions and exhibitions on conservation matters.
(iv) Organize and help to form Regional Chapters of the Society in different parts of India.
(Regional Branches or Chapters shall be entitled to retain 30% of the membership dues and funds collected by them).
(v) To undertake consultancy and training projects in the relevant fields, and collaborate, where necessary, with other Voluntary Agencies and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
(vi) To examine the State of the Land resources of the country from time to time vis-a-vis the growing needs of the people.
5. The Society shall consist of
(a) Chief Patron and Patrons
(b) Fellows
(c) Honorary Members
(d) Members: Any person willing to promote the aims and objectives of the Society within the framework of its Constitution.
(e) Life Members: Individuals who contribute a lump sum amount of Rs. 2000.00 or any other amount fixed by the Executive Council from time to time.
(f) Associates (meant for students)
(g) Sustaining Members: Individuals or Institutions contributing Rs. 2500.00 per annum or a lump sum of Rs. 20, 000.00 (or as fixed by the Executive Council from time to time).
6. Members (of all categories) shall be entitled to the following privileges:
(i) To be present and vote in all general meetings.
(ii) To propose candidates for membership.
(iii) To have personal access to the library and general meetings.
(iv) To receive the journals of the Society.
(v) To fill any office of the Society on being duly elected thereto.
7. Members of all categories shall pay such admission fee and an annual subscription as decided by the Executive Council from time to time. The subscription shall be valid for the financial year (1st April to 31st March) provided that any member may pay his life subscription by payment of a sum of Rs. 2000.00 only (with the option of paying in two installments).
8. A The affairs of the Society shall be managed by Executive Council of 27 members consisting of the following:
(a) President
(b) Senior Vice-President
(c) Four Vice-Presidents
(d) Secretary-General
(e) Two Joint Secretaries
(f) Treasurer
(g) Chief Editor
(h) 16 Councillors
8. B Incumbents of the four posts, viz (i) Senior Vice-President (ii) Secretary-General (iii) One Jt. Secretary and (iv) Treasurer shall be filled in by persons normally residing at the Society’s headquarters.
8. C The post of the Chief Editor shall be filled by nomination of the incumbent by the President of the Society.
9. In case of vacancy of the President's post (for whatever reason), Senior Vice-President shall become the President. Other vacancies in the Executive Council shall be filled in by the Executive Council itself.
10. The Executive Council shall be entitled to nominate additional members for any specific purpose or for filling vacancies in the Council.
11. Chairpersons of the Chapters of the Society shall be ex-officio Regional members of the Council.
12. The Executive Council and all the office bearers, except the Chief Editor, shall be elected directly by the General Body during its meeting and shall hold office for a period of 3 years. However, the Existing Executive Council shall continue to function with full powers till the next one is duly elected and takes charge. The Chief Editor’s post will be filled in , as provided in Section 8 C.
13. (a) There shall be an Annual Budget of the Society which shall be adopted by the Executive Council for the financial year from 1st April to 31st March.
(b) The funds of the Society shall be deposited in a Bank and shall be operated jointly by two signatures of:
(i)One: President
(ii)Two: Secretary-General or Treasurer
(c) The President, Senior Vice-President and Secretary-General jointly may spend upto Rs. 5000.00 per month under their own powers beyond which they shall seek the prior approval of the Executive Council. (d) A statement of monthly accounts shall be presented to the meetings of the Executive Council.
(e) The accounts of the Society shall be audited every year by a Registered Chartered Accountant.
(f) The balance sheet shall be approved by the Executive Council and shall be included in the Annual Report of the Society to be placed before the General Body meeting or to be circulated to members if it is not possible to hold such a meeting every year.
14. The headquarter of the Society which was at Hazaribagh in the first instance ,stand shifted to New Delhi w.e.f. the date of decision of the General Body in this regard, i.e. January 19, 1990.
15. A code of professional ethics shall be prescribed by the Society which shall govern all categories of Members.
16. Only the General Body Meeting would have powers of amendment of this Constitution.
17. The Society shall not be dissolved except by a postal ballot in which 3/4 th of the total number of valid Members with voting rights, vote for such dissolution.
. 18. These amendments and the amended sections, replace any existing clauses of the Rules & Regulations, or any past decisions of the Executive Council or General Body which might run contrary to the above Constitution and amendments thereof