State Act

The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961

28. Subject to the provisions of section 27, the Market Committee Funds shall be expended for the following purposes:- (i) acquisition of sites for the market; (ii) maintenance and improvement of the market; (iii) construction and repair of buildings which are necessary for the purposes of the market and for the health, convenience and safety of the persons using it; (iv) provision and maintenance of standard weights and measures; (v) pay, leave allowances, gratuities, compassionate allowances and contributions towards leave allowances, compensation for injuries and death resulting from accidents while on duty, medical aid, pension or provident fund of the persons employed by the Committee; (vi) payment of interest on loans that may be raised for purposes of the market and the provisions of a sinking fund in respect of such loans; (vii) collection and dissemination of information regarding all matters relating to crop statistics and marketing in respect of the agricultural produce concerned; (viii) providing comforts and facilities, such as shelter, shade, parking accommodation and water for the persons, draught cattle, vehicles and pack animals coming or being brought to the market or on construction and repair of 1[link roads] approach roads, culverts, bridges and other such purposes; (ix) expenses incurred in the maintenance of the offices and in auditing the accounts of the Committees; 2[(x) * * * * * * * * (xi) * * * * * * * *]; 1[(xi-a) payment of premium on insurance of farmers, who sell their produce in the markets established in the notified market area of a Market Committee constituted under this Act;] (xii) meeting any legal expenses incurred by the Committees; (xiii) imparting education in marketing or agriculture; (xiv) payments of travelling and other allowances to the members and employees of the Committee, as prescribed; (xv) loans and advances to the employees; 2[(xvi) * * * * * * * *]; 3[(xvii) with the previous sanction of the Board, any other purpose which is calculated to promote the general interests of the Committee or the notified market area; (xviii) to establish regulatory system and to create infrastructure for e-trading platform, e-marketing, direct marketing, e-trading, producer and consumer marketing and producer marketing; (xix) to provide infrastructure for cleaning, grading, standardization and packaging of agricultural produce; (xx) to create and promote an infrastructure on its own or through public private partnership for a market yard of a notified market area and value addition such as cleaning, standardization, grading, packaging and post harvest handling of agricultural produce; (xxi) construction, repair, maintenance of link roads and passages to market yard.]; 1[(xxii) providing relief to debt stressed farmers of the State;] 2[(xxiii) contribution for Price Stabilization Fund.]