68L. Grant of advances in abnormal conditions.- (1) The Commissioner or where so authorised by the Com¬missioner, any officer subordinate to him may, on an application from a member whose property, movable or immovable, has been damaged by a calamity of exceptional nature, such as floods, earthquakes or riots, authorise payment to him from the provident fund account, a non-refundable advance, of rupees five thousand or fifty per cent of his own total contribution includ¬ing interest thereon standing to his credit on the date of such authorisation, whichever is less, to meet any unforeseen expendi¬ture: (2) No advance under sub-paragraph (1) shall be paid unless— (i) the State Government has declared that the calamity has affected the general public in the area; (ii) the member produces a certificate from an appropriate authority to the effect that his property (movable or immovable) has been damaged as a result of the calamity; (iii) the application for advance is made within a period of 4 months from the date of declaration referred to in sub-para (i). | 
