The Weight & Measures Department has contradicted the report appearing in Shillong Times (Jan 28) under the caption: “How traders take consumers for ride.” In doing so the Department has unwittingly given a clean chit to the traders.
Our Report had stated that many of the traders were not following the rules and regulation laid down by the Department thereby cheating the unsuspecting consumers. But the Department in trying to defend itself has said “If one goes to a grocer’s shop or a fish stall, ..one will find that all are using standard scales and weights duly verified and stamped by the Inspectors of Weights & Measures
But the Department has been caught in its own quagmire when the press release claimed that it had registered 21 cases from Baza Bazar during the current year. If all the traders are scrupulously following the specifications of the department, how come 21 cases were registered?
The Department’s sweeping statement that “all traders in Shillong are using standard scales, weights and measures” is difficult to swallow. For it can be stated without any fear of contradiction that the Department, if at all, has not visited all the trading centres and shops in Shillong. The press release advises the consumers “not to buy from those traders who hold the beam scales by hand”. If “all the scales are suspended freely from a hook or to a stand” (as claimed by the Department) what is the big idea of advising the consumers to shun such traders? Is it not a tacit admission of the fact that there are some traders who are not above board?
Following is the text of the Press Release” “The attention of the Government has been drawn to a news item which appeared in Shillong Times of January 28, 1984. Government wanted to clarify that it is not a fact that traders in Shillong have been given a free hand by the Department. All traders in Shillong are using standard scales, weights and measures. If one goes to grocer’s shop or a fish stall, a vegetable stall, etc one will find that all are using standard scales and weight duly verified and stamped by the Inspectors of Weights and Measures. Besides, all scales are suspended freely from a hook or to a stand to avoid manipulation and to ensure fair correct weight.
“Further , a number of advertisements have been given in the local papers to warn the traders to suspend the scales and to use standard weights and measures only. And at the same time the consumers have been advised not to buy from those traders who hold the beam scales by hand and to see that the weights and measures used are standard weights and measures having the stamp of the Government and to report to local Inspector or the Controller if they find any defaulter or suspect malpractices in weights and measures.
“As such the Department is always active and trying its best efforts to protect the consumers. This is evident from the fact that during the current year the Department has registered 21 cases from Shillong Bazabazar only. The consumers are advised to inform the local Inspector for speedy action whenever they detect such cases of malpractices.”