The East India Company appointed gomasthas to supervise weavers in India

The appointment of Gomastha:

(i)The Company tried to eliminate the existing traders and brokers connected with the cloth trade, and establish a more direct control over the weaver.

(ii)It appointed a paid servant called the gomastha to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth.

(iii)It prevented Company weavers from dealing with other buyers. One way of doing this was through the system of advances.

(iv)Once an order was placed, the weavers were given loans to purchase the raw material for their production.

(v)Those who took loans had to hand over the cloth they produced to the gomastha. They could not take it to any other trader.

Tips: -

M. Imp.