Who were ‘gomasthas’? How did they become good partners of the British Management System?
THE Gomasthas were paid servants whose job was to supervise weavers, collect supplies and examine the quality of cloth.
The aim of the East India Company behind appointing gomasthas was to work out a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control cost and ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk.
Soon there were clashes between the weavers, and the gomasthas who began ill treating the weavers.
Key Tasks of Gomasthas:
- It developed a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control cost and ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk from India. For this reason gomasthas were appointed to supervise, collect supplies and examine the quality of cloth.
- They did not allow the Company weavers to sell their produce to other buyers. Once an order was placed, the weavers were given loans to purchase the raw material. Weavers who had accepted loans from the Company had to hand over the cloths they produced to the gomasthas only.