Section 36G in West Bengal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1972

 

Section 36G in West Bengal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1972

36G. Fund of the Board.

(1)The Board shall have a Fund to be called the West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund.

(2)

(a)All moneys received by the Board shall be paid into the West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund and all expenditure incurred by the Board under or for the purposes of this Act shall be defrayed out of the said Fund. [* *] [The words "Any surplus remaining with the Board at the end of the market year shall be utilised in such manner as may be prescribed." omitted by the West Bengal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 1977, section 17(1)(i).]

(b)[ The West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund shall be operated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Board jointly with such an official member of the Board as the Board may determine and the accounts thereof shall be kept in such manner as may be approved by the Board : [Clause (b) with the Proviso Substituted by ibid, section 17(1)(ii).]

Provided that the Board may also authorise another official member to operate the fund jointly with the Chief Executive Officer in case of absence of the official member determined in the aforesaid manner.]

(c)A copy of the audited accounts, along with the auditor's report thereto shall be, as soon as may be, forwarded to the State Government, and any direction issued by the State Government in relation thereto shall be forthwith carried out by the Board.

(d)The accounts of the Board in respect of each market year shall be audited within three months of the closing of the market year, by such auditor as may be approved by the State Government, and the fees payable to such auditor and the other expenditure incurred for audit shall be paid out of the West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund.

(e)The Board shall cause to be produced all accounts, registers, documents, vouchers, receipts and other relevant papers which may be called for by the auditor for the purpose of audit. Any explanation called for by the auditor for the settlement of any discrepancy in the accounts shall be immediately furnished to him.

(f)The auditor shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with audit of the accounts of the Board as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has with the audit of Government accounts.

(g)The West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund shall be applied to enable the Board to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(3)[ The West Bengal State Marketing Board Fund shall be utilised for the following purposes, namely :-

(i)better marketing of agricultural produce,

(ii)marketing of agricultural produce on co-operative lines and assisting the co-operative marketing societies in the procurement of produce belonging to small and marginal farmers and their disposal.

Explanation.- In this clause, 'small farmer' shall mean a farmer who possesses more than two hectares but less than four hectares if he is a member of any of the Scheduled Tribes, and more than one hectare but less than two hectares in other cases, of land, either as an owner or as a raiyat or as a share-cropper and 'marginal farmer' shall means a farmer who possesses not more than two hectares if he is a member of any of the Scheduled Tribes, and one hectare in other cases, If land, either as an owner or as a raiyat or as a sharecropper;

(iii)taking of steps to stop distress sale in conjunction with other agencies, State or Central;

(iv)provision for transport and storage facilities;

(v)collection and dissemination of market rates and news;

(vi)grading and standardisation of agricultural produce;

(vii)general improvements in the markets or the respective market areas;

(viii)participation in any scheme designed to augment and improve production and betterment of agricultural produce:

(ix)subsidising the implementation of production oriented schemes such as small irrigation, spraying, drainage, in the hinterland of the markets;

(x)acquisition, establishment or management of the retail markets, periodic hats and fairs located in the market areas;

(xi)maintenance of the office of Board and construction and repair of its office buildings. rest house and staff quarters;

(xii)giving aid to financially weak market committees in the shape of loans and grants;

(xiii)payment of salary, leave allowance, gratuity, compassionate allowance, compensation for injuries or death resulting from accidents while on duty, medical allowance and pension or provident fund to the persons employed by the Board and leave and pension contribution to Government servants on deputation;

(xiv)payment of travelling and other allowances to the members of the Board, its officers and employees;

(xv)carrying out of propaganda, demonstration and publicity in favour of agricultural improvements;

(xvi)meeting any legal expenses incurred by the Board;

(xvii)imparting education in marketing or agriculture;

(xviii)construction of godowns;

(xix)granting of loans and advances to the employees;

(xx)meeting expenses incurred in auditing the accounts of the Board;

(xxi)carrying out, with the previous sanction of the State Government, any other purpose which is calculated to promote the general interest of the Board and the market committee or the national or public interest.]

[Sub-section (3) inserted by the West Bengal Agricultural Produce marketing (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 1977, section 17(2)]