MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

INTRODUCTION

THE PRINCIPAL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, viz., agriculture, industry, trade and transport provide means of livelihood to a majority of the population. But they do not cover the whole field of economic activity. There is an appreciable percentage of the population which earns its livelihood by following small crafts and occupations, such as, hair cutting, hotels and restaurants, flour mills, tailoring, etc. Most of these are engaged in production of goods of daily consumption or rendering useful service to the society. A comparatively small number is engaged in professions like education, medicine, etc. These occupations are typically urban in character and have much impact on the economy of the district. A considerable development has taken place in their structure and character in the last fifty years and as a few of them have disappeared, a large number has inflated their ranks. The increase in the number of such occupations has provided further employment to the local people. The increase in the number of establishments is attributed to the changing habits of the people. For instance, change in the wear apparel has resulted in an increase in establishments dealing in ready-made clothes. Thus the rapid growth of occupations, such as, hotels and restaurants, hair cutting, laundering, tailoring, pan-patti, etc., is both a factor to be reckoned with in the urbanisation of country-side and an index of the decree of prosperity and economic stability of the district.

An attempt is made in this chapter to give a brief account of certain selected miscellaneous occupations in the district. A sample survey was conducted at the district headquarters and tahsil places with a view to presenting a broad picture of the economic conditions prevailing in these occupations. About ten per cent of the total establishments situated in different localities and of different sizes and types were surveyed. A general questionnaire was prepared and answers were collected from each of the selected samples.

Many of these occupations represent a combination of industry and trade and are chiefly to be found in the urban areas. The following account is related only to employment, earning, wages, equipment and raw materials used by these occupations.

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