MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

PAN BIDI SHOPS

These shops are found in almost all the parts of the district except possibly a few villages. Some of the shops are merely a part of the hotels and restaurants, while others carry on business independently at the more crowded places in towns and big villages. These shops have sprung up to cater to the ever increasing needs of customers who prefer chewing and smoking as a mode of relaxation. The occupation, however, does not provide a measure-able scope for employment.

The raw materials which consist of betel-leaves, tobacco, lime, catechu etc., are usually brought from the retailers. Different types of bidis manufactured in the district are also kept in the shop for sale. In a few cases the shops also keep sundry articles, such as, post cards, soap, oil etc., which are sold at sligtly higher rate than the prevailing ones. The value of purchases made by the shops generally ranges from Rs. 30 to Rs. 70 and Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 in case of small and big sized shops, respectively.

The tools of the business include nut-crackers, a bucket to keep the betel-leaves, a small pot and such other articles necessary for the purpose. As the shops are very small in size neither there is place for any decorative furniture nor does the nature of its transactions demand any such articles execept a small cupboard. In the big towns, however, shops are decorated with photographs, mirrors and in a few cases with a radio-set, tubelights, etc. The amount of investment generally varies between Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 in case of a small shop as against Rs. 300 and Rs. 700 in case of big shop. The nature of business does not involve fixed capital as the business is effected on cash basis. Very few establishments were found to have borrowed for the sake of investment. The business is usually managed by the owner himself. Where the shop undertakes the manufacture of bidis, it is found to employ a few persons on piece-rate basis. The total turnover of an average shop ranges from Rs. 5 to Rs. 20 per day. The net margin earned by a small unit generally ranges from Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 per month, whereas it varies between Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 in case of big shops. The considerable margin is perhaps due to absence of any other expenditure except rent which accounts for Rs. 10 to Rs. 30 per month.

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