The Gazetteers Department

General Old records reveal that the Standard of Living of the masses in the past was very low and miserable. There was ample cultivable land but the direct cultivator himself could clam no right one it. Insecurity and extortions by those in power deterred the cultivator from saving either in the form of ornaments or other form, of wealth, the could, and did borrow upon his crops, and personal security, but had very little else to offer. The Berar Gazetteer of 1870 says, "even until within the last few years the cultivator of this part of India was a somewhat miserable and depressed creature. He was deeply in debt, tradition relates that cultivators frequently gave up their land and ran away to avoid paying the land revenue, but they were brought back and made, by a mixture of force and conciliation, to cultivate again. So heavy was the burden of land revenue that the cultivator had to often borrow from the sahukars to pay it and in the process the sahukars usually recouped themselves by claiming standing crops and even by forced purchase of that land itself, Barbarous means were employed by the money-lenders of the time to compel payment. A considerable number of people regarded tins suffering as a matter of course, and accepted as such with fortitude. Cultivation was often so unprofitable that a man would give up his land at any time to become a labourer in another village.

At the beginning of this century the material conditions of the people in this district improved to some extent. This would be corroborated from the extracts from the Akola District Gazetteer of 1910 which are quoted below.

"It is said, however, in till parts of the District that both cultivators and labourers now have houses, food, and clothes much better, as well as more expensive, than they had 50 or 60 years ago: they give entertainments on a far larger scale, and they feel no necessity to work for long hours. The subject is certainly very complicated but these indications appear unmistakable; it is difficult to doubt that the general economic position of the cultivator has immensely improved. At the same time his condition is not wholly satisfactory; cultivators themselves feel the burden of debt keenly. Two prominent considerations apply to this. The first is that 24 per cent per annum is a common rate of interest for long loans and 50 per cent for a small loan made for sowing or weeding. Such high rates on the one hand make even a small debt serious and on the other ensure that a man shall keep his total debt within fair limits or be speedily ruined; if he can pay so much interest in poor seasons he will be able easily to repay the capita! in good years. The second is that, though, cultivators are in most respects frugal, yet social events, especially weddings, are made the occasions of great extravagance; for instance, a man of 55 says he can remember when a wedding in his family cost Rs. 100, but now it costs, Rs. 1,000. People say as a matter of course that they must copy any fresh extravagance of their soyaras (relatives), the set with whom they intermarry, and that this involves them seriously. Extraordinary economic changes have occurred within the memory of men still living; the Muglai condition, 60 years ago, was one of very plain living and scanty wealth, except in a few official circles; nigh priced cotton and low-priced land, under greatly improved political conditions, brought for many years a new and ready prosperity and constantly supported fresh expense, but now more economy is becoming necessary; thus villagers will point to a field which was sold 20 years ago for Rs. 150 and has just been sold again for Rs. 2,000. It may be that these changes have not yet worked themselves out, and in particular that the new system of economic freedom has not become adjusted to the endless grades of caste system. There is clearly room for mixed results from changes so considerable." [Akola District Gazetteer 1910, pp. 193-94.]

"Probably half the cultivators are as deeply in debt as they can endure with any comfort, but the debt is not large in comparison with the interest they manage to pay. Large landholders who can borrow at about 12 per cent are often as seriously involved as the poorer classes. Absolute freedom from debt on the one hand and bankruptcy or hopeless debt on the other both appear uncommon. Indebtedness has been in existence for very many years; it is said to have increased distinctly during the famine of 1899-1900, and in a few years where the seasons were especially unfavourable it has increased during the last two or three years." [Ibid p. 196.]

Subsequently, however, far reaching changes took place in the material conditions of life. Every decade brought in a trail of events which did not spare the quietness of traditional living. The First World War, the Depression of 1930, the Second World War and the dawn of Independence which brought forth additional strength on the general economy of the country caused momentous changes in the living conditions of the people. Some of the events brought blessings while others untold hardships. The economic lot of the people in this district could not be separated from that of the masses in India. This was also the period in which the National Freedom Movement generated consciousness among the masses, and the ruling race was compelled to initiate economic reforms. This had definite bearings on the level of living in the country.

With the intellectual ferment and the spirit of modern education, many of the ways of life appeared to be insipid and contrary to the new outlook on life. The liberal ideas which were being advocated, and the influence of the socialistic pattern of society gradually changed the ideas of the standard of living of individuals.

The present young generation in the urban areas looks down upon the squalid living conditions. They just cannot reconcile with the age old poverty inflicted by indifferent forefathers and foreign rulers. Even an average peasant feels that his sluggish environment must change. The spread of the trade union movement has made the industrial worker conscious about his rights in the fruits of production. Surprisingly enough, a landless labourer who was almost a serf in the past, has started clamouring for a subsistence wage and a right to better living. The cry for economic betterment is heard from all strata of society. The call for the Welfare State is rever berating all around.

In the midst of the rising expectations, the government authorities started undertaking numerous measures for the economic uplift of the people. Legislation against usurious moneylenders, tenancy reforms and legislation, agricultural development programmes, loans to cultivators and artisans, educational expansion, and medical facilities are but a few of the many measures which have brought about improvement in the economic condition of the people. With the progressive measures taken by the Government, the material resources of life have been gradually-increasing. Though the increase in population counteracted, to some extent, the increase in material resources, the available aids to economic life are obviously better than before. Diversification of agricultural and industrial production has resulted in the better supply of a number of new commodities. A number of articles of luxury, such as, radio sets, almirahs, wrist-watches, and fashionable garments, which were rarely found before, have become more common.

Besides the material conditions of life, social amenities, which have a definite impact on the standard of living of the people, have increased significantly during the post-Independence period. in educational facilities, which have an important hearing on standard of living, there has been a rapid expansion in institutions, winch have not only increased but multiplied student enrolment, and some desk able diversity with a bias towards technical education. Every town and larger village is served with secondary educational facilities. University education which in the past was like a dream to young boys and girls in remote villages has now come well within a vicinity of about 25 to 30 miles. All this has influenced the outlook and the expectations of the people.

The modern media of mass communication, such as, radio broadcasting, cinema and newspapers have brought about an unprecedented consciousness and urge for better living in the urban as well as rural population. Government measures regarding audovisual publicity have also played an important role in generating this consciousness.

The general observations made above as well as the analysis of the various aspects of living conditions in the district are based on the findings of a sample survey [The sample survey was conducted at Akola, Murtizapur, Washim. Akot, Mangrulpir, Karanja, Balapur, Telhara and Risod in 1969.] made for the purpose. Information about the economic condition of the people and their family budgets was collected by contacting representative households as also official and non-official agencies in the district. The account is primarily based on information regarding family budgets collected as per the proforma prepared for the purpose. Besides, general information was obtained by interviewing some citizens in the district. While on-the-spot investigations and information revealed in the family budgets corroborate the findings outlined below, statistical accuracy is not claimed for the same.

For purposes of investigation, the household is taken to be a unit of sampling. Taking average annual income as the basis of classification, the households surveyed are grouped as under:―

Group I―Households with an annual income of Rs. 4,200 and above.

Group II―Households with an annual income ranging between Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 4,200.

Group III ―Households with an annual income below Rs 1,800.

Group I. The higher income group of persons in Akola district comprise landlords, businessmen, general commission agents, doctors, advocates, industrialists, better paid officers and professors.

The district is bestowed with extensive rich fertile tracts suit able for cotton cultivation. Though irrigated garden lands are very few and far between, there are quite a good number of prosperous landholders. It is revealed in the sample survey that at Murtizapur there are about 50 rich men whose annual income exceeds Rs. 10,000, while about 200 whose income is between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 10,000. It was noted in the survey that a single landlord from Murtizapur possessed 20,000 acres of land prior to the imposition of ceiling on land holdings in 1958. Prior to the land ceiling legislation the land holdings in almost all parts of the district were incredibly big. However, with the increase in population and the progressive legislation during the post Independence period, those large landed estates of the past have dwindled to a maximum of 54 acres for an individual holder.

Even under the present circumstances almost every town and big village surveyed has about 10 to 25 big landholders. A special mention must be made of the prosperous agriculturists from Akot who not only own land, but get a very good yield out of it. In Akot town there are about 40 landholders who derive an annual income of over Rs. 15,000. The situation in other parts of the district is, however, somewhat different. While admitting that they possess extensive holdings the landholders hasten to add that the lack of irrigation facility is the greatest factor limiting their income in spite of the big size of their holdings. A keen observer feels sorry for the ironical situation that the larger holdings in this region do not yield correspondingly good yields and income. This is largely the reason for the generally lower prices of land in the district. While the price of garden land is higher dry land is sold for between Rs. 600 and Rs. 1,500 per acre.

There is virtual unanimity among the agriculturists when they say that while the prices of their cash crops have been favourable to them, the yield is not high enough to obtain adequate benefit of rising prices.

The income of the other components of this economically better off group has increased considerably during the post-war period. The growth of industries and trade has been instrumental in swelling the incomes of factory owners, businessmen, commission agents and the managerial class. The growing medical consciousness among the people has materially added to the income of the doctors. The net annual income of a good medical practitioner ranges between Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 20,000.

The pattern of consumption of the people in this group incommensurate with their income. An important finding of the survey is that the people in this group complain about their rising expenditure, though they speak little about their rising income; the rising expenditure which, they argue, is due to conditions beyond their control. However, reading their statements in between the lines one finds that the rise in expenditure is commensurate with their increased earnings.

Though precise information about their family budgets is not available, it can be said from the survey that the average monthly expenditure of a family in this group amounts to about Rs. 550. Expenditure on foodgrains accounts for about Rs. 100 per month. The most important constituents of expenditure are food, clothing, education, luxury articles and house rent. They can afford to spend more on items such as milk, ghee, oils, vegetables and grocery.

Remarkable changes have taken place during the last few decades in the general pattern of consumption of the whole community, and especially of the families belonging to this group. A number of luxury goods, which were rarely even thought of, have become common items of household use. Radio sets, electric fans, motor cycles, costly wooden and steel furniture, etc., are found in a majority of households of this group. The more well to-up among them possess refrigerators, motor ears and sofa-sets. With the growth of urbanisation and increasing social intercourse between the rural and the urban population, ideas about standard of living are changing. A number of well-to-do persons in towns and bigger villages are found to imitate the pattern of living in cities like Nagpur, Pune and Bombay. The unprecedented spread of education, including higher education, is one of the principal factors bringing about this change.

Now a days, an individual in this group would like to have all the amenities of a decent city life in his town, He has become more dress conscious on the pattern of an urbanite. The rapidly growing use of apparel made out of synthetic fibre, quality cotton and wool in the remote parts of the district is illustrative of this trend. Wider circulation of newspapers, cine-films and other media like radio also explain the impact of the city fashions on the towns and villages. An average family is found to spend about Rs. 550 on clothing per annum. This group by and large has become health conscious with the result that medicines form an important part of the family budget. Though they complain about increasing medical expenses, these expenses are more due to the health consciousness of the people rather than to increasing illness or new forms of pestilence. During the epidemics in the past, illness and mortality were taken as a matter of course, as being generated by evil spirits and angry deities. Even an attempt to cure the infected human being was frowned by the force of tradition. The man of to-day will not look at similar infections with the indifference and coldness prevalent in the past. On an average a family is found to spend about Rs. 217 on medical expenses.

The spread of education throughout the entire countryside is one of the most important features of life during the post Independence period. There is an explicit urge for education all around, and a number of educational institutions have sprung up in all the towns and medium sized villages in the district. In keeping with this increasing consciousness, an individual family is found to spend Rs. 450 to Rs. 1,200 on education every year. Examples are not lacking of better off parents sending two or three of their boys to colleges, and incurring an expenditure of over Rs. 3,000 per annum.

Travelling has now become almost a habit and naturally there is a steady increase in expenditure on this item. The other items of expenditure are: milk Rs. 30. entertainment Rs. 19, domestic servants Rs. 27. lighting Rs. 12, house rent Rs. 35, religious activities Rs. 20 and miscellaneous items Rs. 50 per month on an average.

In the nature of things the cost of living in the urban areas is higher than that in the rural areas in the district. This is because of the following factors: —(i) wants of the people in urban areas are much more varied than those of their rural counterparts, (ii) there are more avenues of spending in towns, (iii) house rent is higher in towns, (iv) cost of services is higher in urban areas, and (v) prices of staple food-grains, milk, vegetables, etc., are higher in towns than in villages where they are produced. However, the benefit of lower cost of living in villages is offset by the limitations on income.

It will be quite clear from the account of education given in Chapter 15 that Akola district compares favourably with many districts of the State as regards literacy and education. In the higher income group, particularly, the proportion of the educated and the literate is higher than in the lower income groups. The condition of housing in towns is much better than that in villages. Recently quite a good many houses of modern type have come up in Akola town. However, by and large, the stale of housing of a large proportion of persons in this group is not as good as would be desired by them. Many of the houses lack modern amenities and architectural planning.

In keeping with higher income, the persons in this group are found to save a good amount out of their income. The various avenues of saving, such as, insurance, unit trust, and small savings certificates have become quite popular with them. A very high percentage of the persons are reported to have deposit accounts with banks though it is hard to ascertain the extent of the deposits to their credit.

Group II. This income group comprises medium landholders, retail traders, petty businessmen, employees of government and private organisations, teachers, hotel owners, doctors, etc.

An average family in this group consists of four adult members and three children, of whom 1.40 members are earners while the rest are non-earning dependents. The annual income of the constituents of this group ranges between Rs. 1,800 and Rs 4,200, while the average income of the families surveyed is about Rs. 3,500. It is revealed in the sample survey that indebtedness in general has declined during the post-Independence period. Though absolute freedom from debt appears uncommon, debt is not large in comparison to the repaying capacity of the concerned persons. This is mainly attributable to the control on money lending by legislation, which has curbed the evil influence of the usurers. In most of the cases surveyed the debt is in the form of institutional credit secured from co-operative societies, land development banks or government authorities. The salaried class and businessmen are reported to have hank balances, while they are found to be more in favour of paper savings.

A landholder in this group who is the backbone of the rural society in the district is found to be in possession of 10 to 20 acres of land. In terms of its present productivity, he realises about Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 per annum. This annual income includes the returns for his own labour as well as that of the members of his family. After deducting this part of the total income, the net income which accrues to him by virtue of his ownership of the land does not exceed Rs. 750 per acre of non-irrigated land. The net yield in the case of irrigated laud may be higher, but irrigation facilities are still inadequate. Naturally he price of an acre of land ranges between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,500 depending upon its soil texture and productivity.

The fixed income earners in this class, as in other classes, who mainly comprise salaried persons and rent receivers have not benefited much due to rising prices. The agriculturists seem to derive some benefit due to rising prices of their produce. However, this benefit is very often off-set by fall in yields and rising costs of cultivation. An average agriculturist is not happy about his lot, and is, in fact outspoken about the squalid economic conditions around him.

The earnings of the salaried class have increased during the last about five years. But the rise in terms of real income is very doubtful. A salaried man claims that his economic lot was much better in the past, when he could purchase the entire bundle of his necessities for a small sum. However, this version cannot be accepted as true, and can be explained in terms of the universal human tendency to minimise the evil and magnify the good of the past. If is partly true that the purchasing power of the money was then higher, bid at the same lime it is also true that the income level was lower than in the present. It may be also noticed that the common man now become more vocal about his economic lot, than ever before.

The pattern of consumption of this group of persons is in conformity with their income. The principal items of expenditure are cereals, pulses, grocery articles, clothing, milk, education and medicine. The average monthly expenditure of a family is about Rs. 260 on items such as foodgrains, grocery, vegetables, milk, oils, lighting, education, entertainment, house rent and domestic servants, while the annual expenditure on clothing amounts to about Rs. 405, medical treatment Rs. 198, and miscellaneous items and obligations about Rs. 250. Of the items of monthly expenditure, foodgrains account for Rs. 92, milk Rs. 26, education Rs. 22, oils Rs. 20, house rent Rs. 22 and vegetables Rs. 19.

The pattern of expenditure in rural areas is somewhat different from that in urban areas. The people in rural areas are found to spend much less on items like vegetables, milk, rent, entertainment, clothing and domestic servants. Their needs are adjusted to the simpler environment in the villages.

With many other changes in the socio-economic structure, the articles consumed by the persons in this group have undergone noticeable changes. The change is more obvious in towns than in smaller villages. In the past, consumption was confined to the bare necessities of life; living was very simple and the wants of life limited. Now-a-days the people are found to maintain a good standard as regards dietary. Expenditure on clothing has gone up to a great extent mainly because of the use of superfine varieties of cotton as well as man-made fibre textiles. There is a marked tendency now to prefer smart appearance and fashions to bare needs in clothing.

Education absorbs a large proportion of family expenditure. Though this might be a good sign indicating the public urge, there is an incessant demand for making education cheaper and more accessible than what it is today. Much the same can be said about medical facilities which are costly if judged from current standards. Entertainment such as movies and dramas has become a feature in urban life. With the increase in transport facilities during the last about 15 years travelling has become a habit with a considerable number of people. Hence. expenditure on travel has increased to a great extent.

It can, however, be stated that though the Standard of Living of the majority of people in this group has risen during the plan period, their economic condition has not improved in a commensurate manner. This is mainly attributable to rising expectations for better life, without a proportionate increase in productivity of manpower resources. The unemployed and underemployed manpower is a stumbling block in the way of prosperity.

Group III. This income group comprises landless tenants, poor peasants, landless labourers, industrial workers, artisans, primary teachers, petty shopkeepers and low paid employees of Government and private agencies. By and large, the annual in-come of a person in this group is less than Rs 1,800, though some among them earn it on a regular basis. However, a majority of them are not gainfully employed for the entire year and are not able to earn income sufficient for their bare necessities. The rural economy, as is well known, depends on agricultural activity and there are very few other jobs that can absorb the rising population. Even though it is very difficult to estimate the extent of such unemployment and underemployment in the rural areas, existence of low standard of living in the villages indicates that it must be of a considerable nature. The condition of landless labourers is none too happy and their standard of living is poorer than that of the other constituents of this group and this is especially felt during the lean period of the year. The average daily earning of an agricultural labourer is about Rs. 2.50, that of a mill worker about Rs. 3.50 and that of a rikshaw puller Rs. 4. These rates of earnings speak for the low standard of living of these people.

A majority in this group have to maintain large families with more than four living children. The female members of the family are required to contribute towards the family earnings while the grown up children also cannot be spared from earning.

In the overall context of our population problems and with reference to lower income sections of community, it is necessary to make a mention of the family planning movement which is calculated to improve the standard of living of the people. in spite of the limitations of ignorance and conservatism of the uneducated masses, the movement has received a good response as a result of propaganda, publicity and better awakening. This is seen in the periodic reports from several villages regarding number of vasectomy and tubectomy operations done in family planning camps. In a number of villages the targets of operations are exceeded because of favourable response from tin-people. Besides operations, the other safe and hygienic method of family planning are also being propagated. The propagation and success of the family planning movement is calculated to improve the standard of living of the people in the years lo come.

The average monthly expenditure of a family in this group amounts to about Rs. 130 in urban areas and Rs. 100 in rural areas. Expenditure on foodgrains is about Rs. 65 per month, while oils account for about Rs. 15, vegetables Rs. 13, milk Rs. 15, house rent Rs. 15, entertainment Rs. 4. Very few families in the rural areas purchase milk and ghee. The poorest in this group cannot purchase even vegetables during the off-season when they are quite costly. The staple food is jowar bread accompanied by dal and a vegetable when available. The consumption of rice is limited to festival occasions.

Of the items of yearly expenditure, clothing is the biggest, accounting for about Rs. 250 per annum, education Rs. 180, and medical expenses Rs. 100 and miscellaneous items about Rs. 100 per annum. The students from this income group are however, benefited by the facility of free education extended by the Government of Maharashtra to all the persons whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1,800. The introduction of this scheme has been a blessing to the poor in so far as wider opportunities which were denied by property are now within their reach.

Rising prices have adversely affected the people in this group more so because their earnings are not rising proportionately. This very often leads them to borrow from am available source, to meet the imbalance between income and expenditure.

In the absence of empirical data it is difficult to conclude whether the standard of living of the people in this class has improved during the post-Independence period. An average individual in this group complains about rising prices and rising expenses during the last about 15 years. He, however, does not readily admit that his income, if not proportionately, has also increased. In conclusion it may be pointed out that while income and expenditure have risen considerably, the fact that wants of the people have also multiplied on account of rising consciousness, education and urbanization, cannot also be ignored.

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