Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c8.74

c8.74

The Koṣṭhāgāra, or the Superintendent of the storehouse, should manage the factories of oils, and so forth. Besides, he regulated the sale of grains, barter, and so on.² Many of the state factories primarily supplied the requirements of the Court. But incidentally they were turned to a more humanitarian purpose. Kautalya would like an effort to be made to provide work for poor women whose husbands had gone abroad. The weaving factories should furnish employment for widows, cripple women, women condemned to pay fines, and reclaimed prostitutes. Those who grossly neglected their duty or pilfered the goods should have their hands cut off, or should be given other punishments. Sweating was never to be allowed. All workers were to enjoy a definite number of holidays. If ever they were required to work on holidays, they were entitled to extra payment. Efficiency was encouraged by rewards and bonuses. Officers who delayed the disbursement of wages should be punished with the middle amercement. Officers, again, were sternly commanded not to stare at the faces of female workers, or to talk to them about anything except the work in hand. An infringement of this rule brought the first amercement.¹