BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

In the past there was a multiplicity of weights and measures. The unit value of indigenous weights and measures differed from place to place and also from commodity to commodity at the same place. The English units were also used in certain transactions. The convertibility of the local units into the English units was difficult and confusing at that time. The ignorance of the farmers and workers added to the ambiguity of the coversion factors. The following extract from the old Bhandara District Gazetteer throws some light on the state of affairs prevailing in the past in the district: —

"The measures ordinarily used for grains are—

The above are grain measures. In weighing goods the Govern-ment seer of 80 tolas is usually employed. Chillis and vegetables are sold by the paseri of 120 tolas. The maund of gur contains 13½ seers, and of sugar and ghee l2½ seers. Brass vessels are weighed by a maund of 14 seers 10 chitacks. A khandi of seed area is 2½ acres, being roughly the extent of land for which a khandi of unhusked rice will provide seed. Earthwork in fields and tanks is measured by the pasori or pit of 5 cubits square by one cubit in depth from which the earth is removed. This is equivalent to 84 cubic feet of earth dug. Tank-making is paid for by contract at the rate of a rupee for 5 pasoris or 420 cubic feet, while in the case of field embankments rupee is paid for 6 or 8 pasaris as the lead is less. "

Metric Weights and Measures.— Not much was done subsequently during the British rule to, improve this situation. Some of the British units of weights and measures were enforced. However, local transactions continued to be in terms of the old units. In order to end this multiplicity and to bring about a uniform system for the whole country the Government of India enacted the Standard of Weights and Measures Act in 1956. This Act and the State Government Act viz., the Bombay Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act of 1958, a complementary measure, provide for the enforcement of standard weights and measures based on the metric system.

In pursuance of this legislation the new units have been enforced in the district. Accordingly all the transactions in the district in the organised sector of trade, wholesale as well as retail, and most of the petty sale transactions at the peasants house are done in terms of the metric units. Weights and measures under the new units that are used in transactions are inspected by Government officials periodically. Petty sales activities in foodgrains, vegetables, milk, etc., are however, still found to be taking place as per the old units in some of the distant villages.

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