INDUSTRIES

LARGE AND SMALL INDUSTRIES

ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND CONSUMPTION

It is often claimed that an important locational factor leading to a congenial and sustained growth of all industries is power supply. It is, however, equally true that power supply may be made available nearly everywhere economically through grid system and thus may not exert much locational effect on the development of industries. In regard to Bhandara district it may be pointed out that availability of adequate power in the district through grid system with a voltage stability must be ensured, if the desired development of industries is to be achieved, within a specified time.

There is no power generation unit in Bhandara district. The supply of electricity to the district is chiefly made through the Khaparkheda thermal station near Nagpur. The power substation of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board at Tumsar is fed through the main Khaparkheda power station. The district gets its supply of electricity through the grid at Tumsar. Besides, there is another sub-station located at the site of Messers Cambata Ferro-Manganese near Tumsar as more power is utilised by this industry for processing of manganese and other minerals. With this in view a 66 kilowatts double circuit line has been brought from Khaparkheda to Cambata plant area. With the establishment of an Ordinance Factory at Kavadsi near Bhandara an additional sub-station at Kavadsi is being established to meet the demand from the factory.

The demand for electricity in Bhandara district is growing rapidly due to industrialisation, installation of pumping sets for irrigation and the rising standard of living. In 1961 there were only 37 villages and 5 towns electrified whereas the corresponding numbers were 254 villages and 5 towns for the year 1966. This was a remarkable achievement in the field of rural electrification as it was directly linked up with agricultural production. As a result the consumption of electricity has increased considerably. The industrial power consumption accounted for 41.51 per cent of the total consumption of power in the district in 1965-66, whereas the remaining 58.49 per cent of power consumption was due to domestic, commercial lighting, public lighting and other purposes.

The following table Nos. 3 and 4 give the consumption of electricity and the number of towns and villages electrified and the population covered in Bhandara district in 1965-66.

TABLE No. 3

CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY IN BHANDARA DISTRICT (IN '000' K. W. H.)

Source: Socio-Economic Review and District Statistical Abstract of Bhandara District, 1965-66.

TABLE No. 4

NO. OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES ELECTRIFIED AND POPULATION COVERED IN BHANDARA DISTRICT

Source:—Socio-Economic Review and District Statistical Abstract of Bhandara District, 1965-66.

It will thus be seen that electricity has helped considerably the development of manganese mines near Tumsar and other industries such as, Paper mill, Carbon Electrode Producing Centre, lac, glass, rice and saw milling, etc., as also many other small industries.

MINES AND MINERALS

Bhandara district is rich in mineral resources in the whole of Maharashtra State. Apart from the important minerals such as manganese ore and iron ore, this district possesses abundant supplies of minerals like chromite, kyanite, sillimanite, steatite, asbestos, corrundum, ochres soap stone, mica, building stone, etc. It is endowed with large deposits of manganese ore of both high. and low grade as also those of iron ore which, however, is not useful in the manufacture of steel because of its high titanium-dioxide content. In addition there are deposits of low grade, chromite, kyanite and sillimanite. Minerals like asbestos and steatite are only of academic interest at present.

An account of the economically valuable minerals and mineral substances such as: (1) manganese ore, (2) iron ore, (3) chromite, (4) mica, (5) building stones, (6) kyanite, (7) sillimanite, (8) asbestos, (9) steatite and (10) soap stone found in Bhandara district is given below: —

Manganese Ore: The manganese ore in the district has been exploited since 1900. and its existence has been recorded on several occasions. However, the most active exploitation was stimulated during the two World Wars. Manganese ore has been exported in large quantities and is one of the most important earners of foreign exchange.

The ore deposits in Bhandara district are Magnaniferous Sediments of Archean Age, which have undergone intense regional metamorphism and subsequent alteration and weathering. They are generally associated with rock formations called " Gondites" characterised by the presence of sepessarite garnet and quartz or rhodonite.

The most important deposit of manganese lies in the belt which stretches from Khapa in Nagpur district and enters into Bhandara tahsil from Ramtek tahsil of Nagpur district and then crosses over to Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. The important centres of manganese mining are Chikhala, Dongri Bk., Sita-sawangi and Yedarbuchi in Bhandara tahsil. In 1960-61, 87 mining leases were given to different mining companies for exploitation of manganese ore. The production during 1965-66 was 102,997 tonnes valued at Rs. 1.33 crores as compared to the production of 128,122 tonnes valued at Rs. 1.54 crores during the previous year. The fall in the production was due to the decline in the demand from foreign buyers resulting from recession in world steel industry and competition from Brazilian manganese ore in the U.S.A. market.

The manganese ore recovered from all the mines is of two types—(1) bed ore which is associated with the parent rock called "Gondite" and (2) the detrial ore. In addition to the above-noted centres, high grade manganese deposits and extensive deposits of low grade manganese ore occur in the district. Several large occurrences of low grade ore are seen associated with the parent rock " Gondite ". The low grade occurrences are located at Mangarli, Mandekasa, Lendezari, Alesur, Asolpani and Karli. All these deposits are high silica manganese ore where manganese ore content ranges from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Due to this, these deposits are not under active exploitation at present.

Most of the mines in the district are worked by open cast methods. Float ore is worked by shallow surface working and bed ore is mined by deep quarrying. The deeper portions of the reefs are mined by underground methods. Most of the mines are worked by manual labour. Pneumatic jack hammers are used for drilling holes in the ore bed. In boulder working, the excavated material is first screened to remove earth and the material is then jigged by manually operated Joplin jigs to concentrate the ore and remove impurities like quartz and other gangue rock.

Most of the manganese ore in the past was exported in its raw state but recently a ferro-manganese plant has been set up at Tumsar which utilises a part of the production. The installed capacity of this plant is 20,000 tonnes per annum.

Iron Ore: Iron ore deposits are located at Khursipar about 10 miles east of Gondia. There are three magnetite ore bodies occurring between Khursipar and Ambetalao in Gondia tahsil. The reserves to the depth of 100 feet are estimated at 6.2 million tonnes. The ore has high contents of Titanium-di-oxide and as such cannot be used for making steel unless it is blended in requisite quantity with low titania ores from other places. The deposits have been leased out. but are not being exploited at present.

Chromite: Chromite ore occurs in the vicinity of Pauni village. The ore is noted in the form of a number of small lenses and conspicuous floats of chromite ore which are associated with dunites and serpentinites. The reserves of chromite within 50 feet from the surface are estimated at 0.48 million tonnes. There are also other lenses of chromite in the area which are not exposed at the surface. The chromite contents of ore range between 33.94 per cent and 52.48 per cent. The low grade chromite is amenable to beneficiation. In 1960-61, two mining leases were in force in the district, and 1,228 tonnes of chromite ore valued at Rs. 108 lakhs was exploited.

Apart from the deposits of minerals described earlier occurrences of kyanite, sillimanite, corrundum, soap stone, gold, mica, building materials, etc., are reported at different places in the district Kyanite—the aluminuous silicate—occurs in the chlorite mus-covite schist near about Dighori and near Gobarwahi. Sillimanite is found at Pohara, associated with a tourmaline rock. There are four or five small belts of sillimanite and kyanite bearing rocks The belt at Girola has the maximum thickness of 400 feet but the deposit at Pohara is the best known. The reserves are estimated at 1,000 tonnes. Corrundum occurs at Pohara at the foot of a small hillock. The mineral is mainly excavated from pit9 dug in the ground. The reserves are estimated at 100 tonnes to a depth of 10 feet. Soap stone occurs at Kaneri village in Sakoli tahsil and also at Biroli near Tirora. The stone is buff in colour and crystalline in structure. There is a large quarry which is extensively worked and the stone is largely used for making vessels. Mica deposits occur at a number of places associated with pegmatite types of rocks. The deposits, however, do not have much economic significance. Gold has also been reported to occur in the mineralised belt between Bhiwapur in Nagpur district and Pauni in Bhandara district. Building materials like building stones, boulders, brick earth, etc., are found at a number of places in the district. The following table shows the quantity and value of different minor minerals extracted during the year 1960-61: —

TABLE No. 5 MINOR MINERALS IN BHANDARA DISTRICT, 1960-61.

According to 1961 Census, 4,663 persons are reported to be engaged in mining and quarrying activities. Of these 2,814 are males and 1,849 females. The mineral potentialities of the district have not yet been thoroughly explored. The surveys conducted by the State Department of Geology and Mining, and the Bureau of Mines, may reveal many more deposits than are known at present in the district.

AUTO-REPAIRING AND GENERAL ENGINEERING

Auto-repairing and general engineering industry is mainly located at Gondia and Bhandara in the district. The expansion programme of motorable roads and subsequent increase in automobile vehicles and marketing centres have brought about an appreciable rise in the demand for services rendered by this industry. The activities of the units are diverse, ranging from the production of spare parts to welding, manufacture of agricultural implements, motor repairs, etc.

One such unit was located at Gondia and was established in 1964. It worked throughout the year. This unit was purely engaged in auto repairing and servicing. The machinery of general engineering units consisted of lathes of various sizes, grinders, electric and gas welding sets, hack-saws and various types of drilling, shaping, cutting, milling, moulding, edging, bending, shearing and punching machines. The units engaged in repairing of automobiles had lathes, hydraulic ramp lift, pressure washing machine; boring machines, etc. The tools and equipments of different units varied according to their requirements and specialized products.

The raw materials comprising iron and steel bars and rods, plates and sheets, angles, wire, pipes, beams, casting and moulding parts, tin, pig-iron, brass, white metal and rolled strips. The raw materials were purchased from Nagpur and Bombay. The various items of fuel used primarily included hard-coke, coal, mobile oil and electricity. The value of the fuel consumed by the reporting unit amounted to Rs. 1,200 per month. The reporting unit employed four workers and paid them Rs. 200 and Rs. 250 per month according to their skill. The workers employed belonged to the category of turner, moulder, welder and fitter, respectively. The demand for the service of this unit was mostly local.

RICE MILLING

As paddy is the main crop of the district, rice milling forms one of its major industries. There were very a few rice mills prior to the First World War when paddy was dehusk-ed by the hand process. A number of rice mills were started after the First World War. The industry grew rapidly as there was abundance of cheap power and vicinity of market. During the thirties of the century it received a setback due to the fall in prices in the days of the great depression. It thrived again during the Second World War when Government imposed restrictions upon the movement of rice. In 1961 there were about 77 rice mills in the district concentrated in centres like Tumsar, Bhan-dara, Adyal, Warthi, Sihora, Gondia, Tiroda, Goregaon, Amgaon, Mundikota. These mills were registered under the Factories Act and were engaged in milling of numerous varieties of rice which were locally produced. A few of them were also engaged in making pohas (rice flakes). Most of the concerns had their own business of paddy milling. The total employment in the industry was near about 742 persons in 1961.

Of the various units, 22 were surveyed. Most of these units were established after 1928. Some of the reporting units worked throughout the year, their working days varying between 180 and 300. The rice mills functioning seasonally nearly worked for 200 days.

The fixed capital of the 22 reporting units amounted to Rs. 19,20,000. The working capital of the 6 reporting units amounted to Rs. 7,42,500. The amount of working capital does not appear to be commensurate with fixed capital mainly due to the fact that some units did not purchase raw materials. The other contributory factor was the monopoly purchasing of paddy started by the Government in the district, At present the Government had fixed the quota for milling of rice to each unit, which only charge for milling and husking the rice. The rate of milling per hour reported by the unit was 6 quintals to 9 quintals.

Electricity was the chief fuel used, though mobile and crude oil was also used by some units. The monthly expenditure on fuel stood at Rs. 450 to Rs. 500.

The machinery consisted of grinding stones, rollers, elevators and fillers. Crushers and hullers were used for polishing and husking rice. When oil crushing was undertaken side by side, expellers and decorticators and electric motor or an oil-engine were deemed necessary. The investment of various concerns in machinery differed considerably.

These units employed 270 persons including the supervisory staff. The skilled workers included mill driver and oil-men. The other staff included manager, clerks and supervisors. Besides, these units employed unskilled workers. The daily wages, paid to unskilled workers varied between Rs. 2 and Rs. 2.50. Mill driver and oil-men were paid Rs. 90 and Rs. 60, respectively per month. The total annual wage bill as reported by 18 units was Rs. 1,74,050 and bonus paid by three units was Rs. 4,940 in one year.

The working of almost all the units was disturbed by the policy of monopoly procurement of paddy by the Government and some of them stopped functioning.

BIDI MAKING

Prominent among the large and small-scale industries in Bhandara district is the manufacture of bidis. Tendu leaves required for bidis are found abundantly in the forests and there are a number of large-scale and small-scale factories manufacturing bidis. The large-scale factories were located at Bhandara, Gondia, Tirora, Arjuni, Sihari, Warthi and Tumsar. These factories were mainly engaged in sorting and packing of bidis as the manufacture of bidis mainly goes on a small-scale basis and also through co-operative societies. Bidis prepared by them were then sold on wholesale basis to large-scale factories, engaged in sorting and packing for export. There were 79 large and small scale factories manufacturing bidis registered under the Factories Act. and employing 3,412 persons in the district in 1961.

The Census Report of the Central Provinces and Berar, 1931, observed as follows: " The bidi factories are the most important of the unregulated establishments of this province falling within the scope of this memorandum. Approximately 866 of these establishments, which manufacture a type of indigenous cigarettes from Indian tobacco rolled up in tendu leaves, are scattered all over the province and provide employment to about 42,240 persons representing 80 per cent of the labour dealt with in this memorandum. The industry is, however, most concentrated in the Bhandara district wherein 622 establishments 31,417 persons are employed. Jubbulpore district comes second with 80 establishments employing 3,321 persons. The growth of the industry has been remarkable in recent years. In the Census of 1921, enumerated biri establishments were 164 employing 7,680 persons. In 1925, approximately 225 such establishments were recorded employing 12,400 persons, while in 1927, the establishments were 776 employing 30,065 persons, including 15,568 children under 15 years of age and as stated at present there are 866 establishments employing 42,240 persons. There is no doubt that the swadeshi movement which started during the first decade of the present century, gave the industry a very great impetus. The present boycott movement has also further increased the demand for biris, and this trade is certainly not affected by the prevailing economic depression. Out of the 866 establishments, 185 belong to class (b) employing more than 50 persons a day, and 681 establishments, belong to class (c) employing less. The total number of employees consists of 18,257 males, 10,073 females and 13,910 children. Of the children, 43 per cent or nearly 6,000 are not more than 12 years of age. The distribution of the industry by districts and the average number of men, women and children daily employed are shown below."

TABLE No. 6

AVERAGE NUMBER OF MEN, WOMEX AND CHILDREN DAILY EMPLOYED.

Bidi making was entirely done by hand and there was little or no use of machinery. The tools required were simple instruments, such as, a brick furnace, metal trays for heating tobacco, a pair of scissors and a knife. The brick furnace is a peculiar construction of bricks for baking bidis. It is locally known as tundoor. Its cost was usually in the neighbourhood of Rs. 2,000. Generally a factory had two tundoors and the baking capacity of a tundoor was two lakhs bidis at a time. The process of baking bidis required nearly 12 hours. The bidis were picked soon after baking so as to keep them crisp and fresh.

Raw materials comprised tobacco of different qualities, leaves, thread, packing paper, labels, etc. Quality tobacco which was favourite with the people, was purchased at Nipani (in Belgaum district), Kolhapur and Kaira (in Gujarat State) markets. The leaves used for holding tobacco were generally tendu leaves obtained locally in the district as also from other areas in the State. The length of bidis was not uniform and varied according to regional demand. As such the quantity of tobacco required for 1,000 bidis varied between 349.91 and 524.87 grams. Packing charges though small, formed an important element of the cost of production.

The output of bidis manufactured was fairly small during rainy season when labourers were engaged in agricultural operations. It increased after harvest when they had more time at their disposal for bidi making. The minimum wages per 1,000 bidis were fixed at Rs. 1.62 in municipal areas and Rs. 1.37 in non-municipal areas. The work did not involve special skill and as such there was a keen competition among the workers. It was observed that the rate of wages offered was low.

Some of the factories had branches in the neighbouring districts of Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh. They collected quite a large number of bidis from the feeder factories and the annual turnover of these factories was considerably large. The bidis were marketed all over Maharashtra as well as in other States.

The permanent staff of these factories very often included manager, accountant, cashier, bidi checkers or supervisors and tundoorwalias. They were paid on monthly basis. The number of workers employed in the large-scale and small-scale factories was 30,000 to 40,000 and 13,000, respectively. The daily production of these factories amounted to 2.5 to 3 crore bidis.

PRINTING AND BOOK-BINDING

The industry is of a comparatively recent origin and its development is generally associated with the growth of educational activities. In 1961, there were three printing presses registered under the Factories Act, which employed 237 workers in the district. Of these, 2 presses were surveyed, one of which was established in 1936 and the other in 1950. Thev were located at Gondia and worked perennially. The number of working days ranged between 275 and 350.

The fixed capital of the reporting concerns amounted to Rs. 13,16,000 whereas their working capital stood at Rs. 2,12,000.

The equipment and machinery used by these presses differed according to the magnitude of their investment. Printing work consists of litho-printing, offset-printing and Mock-printing. Preparation of drawings and designs, cutting and hook-binding, block making and type foundry are some of the processes undertaken by these presses. The machinery of printing and composing, comprised cylinder printing machine, automatic cylinders, letterpress printing machine, treadle machine and hand presses. The binding machinery included stitching, cutting, ruling, perforating, punching, folding, numbering, eyeletting and card-board cutting machines. The printing machines in the largest press were modern, consisting of offset machines, lino and mono printing machines, automatic caster, engraver and litho machines.

Power was used by most of the concerns. The annual consumption of power by the reporting units amounted to Rs. 42,000.

The total number of workers in the reporting concerns was 255. An amount of Rs. 5,07,200 was paid to them annually by way of wages, salaries and bonus. Of the reporting two concerns one employed 250 persons and paid to its workers Rs. 5 lakhs by way of salaries, wages and bonus annually: while the other one employed 5 persons and paid them Rs. 7,200 by way of salaries and wages annually.

The main raw materials used by these concerns were paper, varnish, spirit, wax, ink, type metal, stationery and binding materials. Paper of various types like art paper, leather paper and brown paper was the largest single item of expenditure. Ink, glue, mobile oil, soap and kerosene were required for printing. Binding cloth, rexine, leather canvas, glue and card-board were used for binding. Paper was purchased from big commercial centres. Superior art paper was imported from foreign countries. Other raw materials were purchased from Nagpur and Bombay. The reporting big concern purchased annually raw materials worth Rs. 20 lakhs while the small one consumed raw materials worth Rs. 1,200.

One of the reporting concerns at Gondia was engaged in lithographic printing and particularly printing of bidi labels, zilli, posters, etc., on a large scale. The other concern was engaged in printing of forms, bills, cash memos, letter heads, hand bills, registers, etc. The total productive capacity of the reporting big concern was of the value of Rs. 30 lakhs. The main difficulties faced by this industry were in regard to the replacement of outmoded and worn-out machinery, obtaining raw materials and dearth of skilled personnel.

GLASSWARE

There is one unit engaged in glassware industry located at Gondia. The main products of this industry are chimneys, lampwares, bottles, jars, jugs, tumblers and flower vases. Manufacturing processes in this unit are mostly hand-operated, and therefore, the capital investments in fixed assets are proportionately less than the working capital. The unit meets its requirement of working capital by borrowing from private sources.

The main processes, namely, blowing, pressing and cutting are done by skilled workers by hand. The unit works in two shifts and the total production of this unit exceeds the installed capacity per shift. The production of this unit meets only a fraction of the current demand for the products in the district. About 50 to 60 per cent of the production finds market outside the district, viz., Bombay and Calcutta. It was assessed that production was not oriented to the demand pattern of the people in the area. The sale of certain products like chimneys is mostly confined to the rural areas and as such does not face much competition from products imported from outside the district, which generally meet the demand of urban population. This unit employs the agency of wholesalers for the sale of its products in and outside the district on commission basis. The commission rate paid by them ranges between 12 per cent and 25 per cent according to the type of product and volume of sales.

The percentage of skilled workers to the total number of employees was fairly high. The wage rate generally offered varied between Rs. 2.50 and Rs. 4 per day for a skilled labourer and between Rs. 1.25 and Rs. 1.75 for an unskilled labourer. The unit reported difficulty in getting skilled labour at the existing wage rates.

The unit was handicapped in its manufacturing activity due to insufficient availability of raw materials like soda ash, sand, coal and tin sheets. The shortage of high grade coal was accentuated with the commissioning of the Bhilai Steel Plant. Consequently, the unit had to depend on coal available from Chandrapur. The high content of ash in it, rendered it unsuitable for use by the unit. The unit favoured the setting up of a quartz crushing plant to ensure regular supply of sand.

BRASS UTENSILS INDUSTRY

The Bhandara brass ware has been well-known from ancient times. Brassware was one of the small as well as major cottage industries of the district. The size of the industry unit-wise differed considerably. The industry is quite prosperous and utensils manufactured in the district are marketed in various places in the country. There were organised small-scale as well as cottage units engaged in manufacturing of brass utensils in the district. According to the 1951 Census, there were more than 50 cottage units engaged in this industry. There were four units working on small-scale and were registered under the Factories Act. These units were dispersed well over the district employing over 10,000 workers. The small units were mechanised but cottage units were hand operated. All these units had a larger proportion of their capital invested in fixed assets and worked much below their capacity. The average production per worker employed in these units considerably varied according to the variations in the extent of capacity utilised by them. All kinds of cups and plates, large gunds, jhakni, parat, ganj, etc., were manufactured by these units.

The old Gazetteer of Bhandara district has to say the following about this industry, " Bhandara has a fairly large brass working industry, the castes engaged being Kasars, who originally came from Northern India, and Panchals from the South. Brass is imported in sheets from Bombay and old vessels are bought at half price and melted down. All kinds of cups and plates and large gunds and gangals or water-vessels are made. The Panchals manufacture them also from kansa, a mixture of copper and zinc. Articles made from this sell at Rs. 2.8 a seer as against Rs. 1.4 to Rs. 1.8 for brass vessels. Cheap vessels of alloy of lead, zinc, copper or other metals are also made and are known as bharat. Copperware is not usually made except to order, as Hindus do not use it. Iron nut cutters and other articles are made with imported iron in Kamtha and Pangri. In Kaneri in Sakoli tahsil a soap-stone quarry is worked and stone cups and jars are made. These are used for holding curds and acids which would corrode brass ".

In 1961, there were six units registered under the Factories Act engaging 399 workers. In the cottage sector, artisans work for utensil dealers and factory owners hire artisans on piece rate wage basis. This rate includes the cost of solder, acid, flux and fuel required for manufacturing processes. The daily earnings of a worker vary between Rs. 2.50 and Rs. 3; but drop down during the slack season.

The mechanical power presses are used in the production as they facilitate pressing, embossing, spinning, cutting and buff-polishing. The equipment mainly consists of power press, fly press, sharpening and scraping machine, spinning lathe, rolling machine, etc.

The principal raw materials used in these units are various kinds of metals, viz., brass, copper, etc. Among the other raw materials required are chemicals, soda ash, caustic soda, acids, sand, etc. Electricity, hard coke, coal and firewood are used as fuel in the process of production.

Stainless steel, glassware, chinaware and plasticware utensils offered competition to brass utensils industry which greatly affected the industry. Almost all the units experienced difficulty in securing the raw material and capital.

The moderate prospects for the industry as a whole and the idle capacity in the existing units precludes the establishment of new units. However, the industry could be placed on sounder footing through the formation of co-operative societies and their requirements of copper-billets could be met from the Government Ordnance Depot. This would help the industry in promoting the sale of its products.

SAW MILLING

The most valuable species found in the forest in the district is teak. It has a reputation for the decorative veneer in large size and as important constructional timber. The bulk of the forest produce is consumed locally in furniture making and residential constructions. Khair is used for preparing of kath (catechu). A number of saw mills were established in Bhandara district to utilise the forest produce. There were 7 saw mills registered under the Factories Act, and employing 87 persons in 1961.

A survey of five units was conducted. These units were located at Gondia, Tumsar, Tirora and Amgaon, and worked seasonally. The number of working days per year generally varied between 180 and 200 days. The total amount of fixed capital reported by three units together amounted, to Rs. 44,200 and working capital reported by two units was of the order of Rs. 75,000. The machinery consisted of handsaw machine, circular saw, moulding machine, sharpening machine, grinder and electric motor. The value of machinery varied from unit to unit but was generally in the neighbourhood of Rs. 15,000.

The principal item of raw material was wood (especially teak). The total quantity of wood consumed by the reporting two units during one year was valued at Rs. 80,000. Electricity was the chief fuel used by the units and the monthly consumption amounted to between Rs. 70 and Rs. 100 by each unit. The reporting units employed 28 persons, comprising workers and other staff. Skilled workers were paid from Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 per day and unskilled workers were paid from Rs. 2 to Rs. 2.50 per day. The other staff were paid on monthly basis.

The products of the industry were sawn timber and timber waste. The outturn of the units was sizeable. The units cut wooden slabs of timber according to the size ordered by the customers especially for house building purposes.

OIL-MILLS

Oil-seed crushing is a fairly old industry of the district and has been organised for many years as an industry on a small-scale. In former times, every village used to have its own oil-men, and ghanis for crushing of oil-seeds. But in recent times due to the competition from the oil-mills the artisans have lost their business considerably. The number of oil-mills in Bhandara district registered under the Factories Act, was three and they employed 11 persons, in 1961.

Two units located at Gondia were surveyed. Of these reporting units, one was established in 1960. These units worked seasonally and their working days varied considerably. The amount of fixed capital employed in these units was Rs. 15 000, and that of working capital Rs. 55,000.

The raw materials used by these units mainly consisted of linseed, groundnut and other oil-seeds, which were generally available locally in the district. The same were also imported from outside. As compared to other oil-seeds the area under cultivation of linseed is more in Bhandara district. It was 46,618.76 hectares in 1964-65. The extensive acreage under linseed and its fairly large production assures adequate supply of the raw materials for the industry. Caustic soda is used in the process of extraction and is imported from outside. The value of raw materials consumed by the reporting units averaged about Rs. 1,25,000 every year.

The machinery consisted of decorticator for dehusking the oilseeds, expeller for crushing the seeds, hullers and filter pump for oil purification and electric motor. They were purchased from Nagpur and Bombay. Electric power was generally used as fuel. The value of fuel used by these two reporting units amounted to Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,300 per month, respectively. The reporting units employed five workers. The daily wages paid to them varied between Rs. 2 and Rs. 2.50. The oil-men and fitters were paid on monthly basis.

The products mainly included linseed oil and oil-cake. The total value of the products as reported by one unit amounted to Rs. 2,00,000. The products were sold locally in the district. The difficulty faced by the reporting units was non-availability of working capital.

LAC INDUSTRY

Lac industry, one of the flourishing industries of the district, to all intents and purpose is a cottage industry. The cultivation of lac is extensively carried on in Bhandara district and lac industry is valued as an important subsidiary occupation of the cultivators. The area under lac cultivation in Gondia tahsil in the district is the second largest in the country. Due to the abundance of Palas, Kusum and Rangine forests, considerable quantity of lac is produced in the district. It forms the basis of shellac industry in Gondia. The principal crop of Palas lac is obtained in April and May, but some of it is then left on the trees until October and November when it becomes fit to be gathered and sold as brood lac. The Kusum lac is more valuable but less extensively cultivated in the district.

Lac is a resinous incrustation found on the twigs of certain trees, which is produced round the bodies of colonies of the lac insect. The latter subsists on the sap that it sucks up by means of a proboscis from the succulent tissues of the tree. When the young insects escape from the dead body of the female, they crawl about in search of fresh sappy twigs, this is known as swarming and at this time the twigs of trees infected with the lac insect will often be seen to assume a reddish colour, owing to the countless masses of minute insects that are moving all over them. Those that become fixed drop their legs and at once proceed in the process of digestion to transform the sap sucked up by the proboscis and to exude from their bodies the resinous matter with which they become ultimately incrusted. At this stage when it is evident that the swarming is beginning, the twigs of an old tree with the insects on them are cut off and tied on a fresh tree, which it is proposed to bring under production, at the base of the new shoots which have grown as the result of previous pollarding. After some time the insect crawls up the branches of the fresh trees, and piercing the bark at some place sufficiently soft, fixes itself down and commences to exude lac. The greater and the better part of the lac is exuded by the female after mating. The quality of lac depends upon the brightness of the colour, the thickness of the incrustation, and the comparative freedom from parasites. The cultivator lops of the twigs on which lac has form ed with an axe and separates the lac from the twigs with a sickle

As per the Census of 1961, there were 10 units manufacturing lac registered under the Factories Act, in which 193 persons were employed in the district. The average output per worker employed was almost comparable to that in large and small-scale industries.

Lac is a precious earner of foreign exchange. Indian Lac Cess Committee, the Central and State Governments and the lac industrialists are trying to find more avenues of consumption of lac within the country because all internal markets would be more dependable as a stabilising factor. The Lac Research Institute, Ranchi has made some useful contribution in that direction. Lac is distributed and marketed mainly through export agents who often lift the produce at a price which is not generally conducive to the interests of the manufacturers. The lac manufacturers carry on their operations on individualistic lines and hence on unorganised basis, with the result that they always suffer from shortage of funds for use as working capital as well as for purchase of improved equipment.

Some of the units employ power operated crushers and washers, while other processers are aware of the need of improved machinery and equipment and are anxious to mechanise their operations to the maximum possible extent.

Lac was formerly exported to a number of foreign countries, important among them being the U.S.A., the U.K. and West Ger many. Lac industry is at present in a more or less stagnant stage. The foreign market has been substantially lost owing to the introduction of synthetic products in the American and other foreign markets. There has been a steep drop in the price of lac all over the country due to the buyers monopolistic position influenced by the imports of lac from competing countries.

Lac and shellac can be utilised in a number of industries the more important among them being shellac plastics, adhesive and cements, oil-cloth products of vulcanised shellac, etc.

SNUFF MANUFACTURING

There is one unit manufacturing snuff, located at Gondia in the district. It was established before 1955, and now works as a perennial industry. The unit employs only five persons who are paid each Rs. 80 as wage per month.

The main raw materials used are tobacco and simple snuff which are obtained from Sihor (Gujarat State). Subsidiary raw materials, such as, clay, chemicals, etc., are obtained from Bombay. This unit consumes raw materials worth Rs. 7,000 every year.

Mixture of raw tobacco and water is allowed to ferment for about eight days. After it is melted and denatured, wet tobacco is dried completely in the sun before grinding. Then grinding is done with the help of a mill. The tobacco in the form of dust or flour is kept in an earthen vessel and churned continuously with a wooden rod after adding a little water mixed with other chemicals to attain smoothness and fragrance. The powder is then filtered through a piece of cloth and finally packed in small boxes for marketing. The products are marketed in the district itself.

The difficulty faced by this unit is shortage of capital.

PLASTIC INDUSTRY

There is one factory established in 1963, at Gondia engaged in the production of plastic goods for which there is a good demand in the district as well as outside the district. It produces a variety of products, such as, plastic pipes, bags, cloth, etc. Most of the raw materials are purchased from Bombay. The unit uses raw materials valued at Rs. 80,000 every year. It is a perennial industry. The equipment and machinery used by the factory are valued at Rs. 36,000. Electricity is used to serve as fuel and power, and the monthly consumption of the unit ranges between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300. The unit has seven workers on its staff and their wages range between Rs. 45 and Rs. 85 per month. The annual production capacity of this unit is estimated at two lakhs of rupees. The products are marketed throughout the country.

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