INDUSTRIES

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

Introduction.—Village industry or cottage industry is an indispensable part of the village economy. There are many traditional crafts conducted on household or cottage industries scale. A cottage industry has been defined as ' one which is carried on wholly or primarily with the help of members of the family, either as a whole or a part time occupation.' No definition can avoid overlapping and afford a clear line of demarcation between cottage and small-scale industries. With the growing industrialization, there will be a growing need for finding avenues of employment for those who are displaced by the use of machinery. These could be provided by the cottage industries which also perform the additional function of supplying a supplementary source of livelihood to the rural population of the district. The main industries that form this group are handloom-weaving, handicrafts, carpentry, blacksmithy, dyeing and printing, leather working, making of bricks, tiles and other clay products, etc.

The schemes included in the State Plan for the development of cottage and village industries broadly pertain to the adoption of improved techniques by them and to their stabilisation and expansion. They also aim at the removal of the major handicaps in their development such as non-availability of necessary finance. Generally, craftsmen suffer from the problem of insufficient finance for purchase of tools, implements and raw materials. This difficulty is solved by establishing agencies to provide financial assistance to them in the form of long-term and short-term loans and subsidies to craftsmen.

Though craftsmen are skilled in their professions, they do not have the knowledge regarding advanced techniques which could be profitably used in these industries. With this view under the State Plan for the development and expansion of cottage industries in Vidarbha region, the nyaya panchayat circles have been taken as units for setting up training facilities and for organization of production-cum-marketing centres. The gram panchayats with a nyaya panchayat circle encourage the village artisans to take the advantages of training facilities and join in the scheme of production-cum-marketing centres. In addition, gram panchayat also encourages artisans by standing guarantee for the various grants, loans, and subsidies, which may be given to these centres.

During the Second Five-Year Plan, under this scheme, an organization for each trade or groups of trades was set up at suitable places where there are village panchayats. The principal trades that come under these schemes are (1) weaving and fibre work, (2) carpentry, (3) blacksmithy, (4) pottery, (5) cane and bamboo, (6) tannery and leather goods, (7) oil-ghanis, (8) tailoring, (9) lime-kiln and charcoal-kiln, and (10) industries allied to agriculture.

Demonstration parties, each consisting of six instructors, impart location training to the craftsmen in the use of improved processes and labour saving schemes. Two demonstration parties consisting of 12 instructors and 12 social workers have been working in the N. E. S. and C. D. Blocks of Buldhana district.

Under the scheme of pioneer units of production in village industries, a bee-keeping centre was set up in the district during the Second Five-Year Plan.

Cotton Weaving (Handloom).— The cotton weaving is an age old industry and is one of the important cottage industries of the district. As the Tariff Board has observed, " It provides an occupation to the agriculturist in the season when the agricultural work is slack and enables him to use his time, which would otherwise be wasted, in producing goods of a certain even though limited value. "

The old Gazetteer of Buldhana district published in 1910 has the following to say about it:

" The following castes are engaged in the cotton weaving industry: Salis, Koshtis, Hatgars, Khatris, and Mahars who are all Hindus, and Momins who are Muhammadans. In 1897 there were 1,339 cotton looms in the District, but the number has decreased in recent years. Forty years ago all the processes from the raw product to the finished article were performed in the district, but since the advent of the railway, thread has ceased to be spun locally and only the imported article is used. But not only is the thread brought from outside, machine finished product has largely ousted the local hand-made article. Coarse cotton cloth for the poorer classes is woven by Mahars throughout the district. The piece of cloth for which there is the greatest demand is known as khadi and measures 24 cubits by 1½ cubits, costing from Rs. 2-8-0. The Mahars also manufacture the pasodi, loin cloth, covering sheets, dhoti and dupatta, for prices varying from Rs. 1-8-0 to Rs. 2-8-0. Cloth of finer quality is made by the Koshtis, Hatgars, and Salis. Deulgaon Raja contains a colony of about 200 to 300 families of Koshtis, who have obtained some fame for their saris, pagris (turbans), and khans (cloth for making cholis or parkar). These are made of cotton with silk borders, and have a large sale at the annual fair. A sari woven by Deulgaon Raja weaver was exhibited at the Nagpur Exibition in 1908, its price being Rs. 24-8-0. Dongaon in the Mehkar taluk, and Nandura also have some reputation for their saris. The Momins or Muhammadan weavers make principally pagris or turbans. Newar (tape) and tadhao (stout carpet) are manufactured at Jalgaon and jhul (body cloth of bullocks) and jajam (floor cloth) at Nandura ".

In 1931, weaving continued to be the main cottage industry. The census report of the Central Provinces and Bexar describes the industry as under:

" The Textile section of the Department of Industries which started work in 1916 went on introducing improved sleys amongst the handloom weavers. By the end of the decade the improved sley and a few other accessory appliances became fairly popular at all the important weaving centres. About 30,000 of these sleys were introduced by the end of the decade. These sleys increased the output of the handlooms by at least 75 per cent. The result was over production which created fresh problems for the industry. For want of proper marketing facilities the increased products are not easily sold nor have the weavers been able to make any other use of the increased leisure which the new sleys bring to them. The classes using hand-woven fabrics are taking more and more to mill-made fabrics. The weavers cannot produce goods of more modern pattern to keep pace with changing fashions. Only those weavers who turn out finer and more artistic fabrics which cannot be manufactured in factories could hold their own in the industry. The competition of factory-made piece goods continued to hit the rest hard during the decade. The condition of the vast mass of handloom weavers engaged in the manufacture of ordinary sarees and dhotis is thus deteriorating still further. It is only in tracts where conservative fashions in the sarees still survive, that the handloom weaver is not yet too badly off. "

The All India Handloom Board has worked out the programme of development of handloom industry and the schemes in the State Plan generally follow the pattern. The programme envisaged formation of weavers' co-operatives. It also considered providing of financial assistance to the co-operatives for the development of the industry to facilitate use of improved tools and appliances and opening of sales depots. Under the scheme, by 1957-58, 157 working looms were set-up within the co-operative fold.

There are six weavers' co-operatives in the district. The important centres of handloom industry are Nandura and Deul-gaon Raja. Government also provides financial assistance to these co-operatives and also advances loans to them.

As per 1961 Census by the end of May 1961, there were 1,441 cotton and 4 non-cotton registered handlooms in the district. In 1964-65, the number of handlooms operating in the district was 175. In 1965-66, it stood at 177. The handlooms were also worked in Malkapur and Chikhli tahsils. The production of handlooms amounted to 1,03,309,000 metres in 1964-65, where as in 1965-66 it stood at, 107,585,000 metres.

As regards rural industrialisation, the Third Five-Year Plan envisaged a programme of financial assistance to artisans and craftsmen in forming their co-operatives. Under the plan a sum of Rs. 92 thousand was advanced to the co-operatives of handloom weavers and Rs. 3 thousand to six other co-operatives.

The statistics relating to handlooms and powerlooms for the years 1964-65 and 1965-66 are given below:

*Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Maharashtra State, Bombay.

TABLE No. 6

STATISTICS RELATING TO HANDLOOMS AND POWERLOOMS FOR THE YEARS
1964-65, 1965-66.

*Source.—Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Maharashtra State, Bombay.

Fishing Industry.— Fishing industry has a limited scope in the district as fishery activities in the district are limited to the inland water only, viz., rivers, tanks, and ponds. In addition the Nalaganga reservoir constructed recently provides an additional area of 2,714 acres to serve as a separate watersheet for the development of fishing industry. However the total water spread area is comparatively inadequete for the development of fishing industry in the district.

According to 1961 Census, 209 persons were engaged in fishing as principal workers, 193 of whom were males and 16 were females. Fishermen in the district belong to the communities known as Dheemar, Bhoi, and Kahar. As fishing industry has a limited scope, some fishermen take to jobs in petty industries and lew others as agricultural labourers. Fishing is generally made by gill nets and cast nets. The nets are mostly made of cotton-twine, but now a days, nylon is also effectively used. Financial assistance in the form of subsidy is provided for purchase of nylon and cotton twine, under the fishery requisites scheme.

There are three co-operative societies of fishermen in the district, dealing in the stocking of carp fry and manufacture of fishing nets and their sale. These co-operative societies are given financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidy. They are also provided assistance for securing tanks and ponds for purpose of pisciculture.

Carpentry.— Carpenters are engaged in wood works and repairing furniture, making agricultural implements, etc. They also make doors, door frames, etc., required for buildings.

The number of persons engaged in this occupation shows an increase in 1961 over that engaged in 1951. The figures for the respective years are 4,356 persons including 4,098 males, 258 females, and 3,320 persons including 3,185 males and 135 females.

There are six carpenters' co-operatives in the district. The establishment of these co-operatives has resulted in bettering the prospects of this industry in the district. The wages paid to the carpenters have also shown a rise as a result of the establishment of the co-operatives.

A carpenter's tool-box consists of saw, tasani (adze), chisel, goib or ardhagol, girmit (country hand drill), randha (plane), hammer, scribe, knife, etc. To acquaint the carpenters with modern techniques of production training centres imparting training to carpenters have been established in Nandura and Mehkar blocks.

Pottery Making.—In 1961, the number of persons engaged as potters was 1,412.

These potters are mostly the part and parcel of the village economy and many of them still work on the traditional baluta system under which they get a fixed quantity of foodgrains at the harvest time for supply of earthenwares to the village people.

Nandura is famous for its red and black vessels.

The 1961 Census reported only one unit engaged in the manufacture of chinaware and crockery. The Government have established one training centre in Jalgaon block where training regarding pottery is imparted to the artisans.

Horse dung, clay, coal and ash are the raw-materials from which earthenwares are prepared. Traditional potter's wheel, moulds, ghamelas, pick axes and kiln to bake the pots constitute the equipment of a potter. The village potter makes gadgis, madkis, ranjan, thalis, etc., which are the traditional items of village pottery.

At present there are three potters' co-operatives in the district.

Leather Industry.—As per 1951 Census 1,284 persons including 1.200 males and 84 females were engaged in leather, leather products and footwear. The 1961 Census showed a marked increase in the number of persons engaged in leather and leather products, the number being 2.158 persons including 2,077 males and 81 females. Out of these 1,855 (1,783 males, 72 females) were engaged in the manufacture of shoes and other leather footwear; while 209 persons including 205 males and 4 females were engaged in the repairing of shoes and other leather footwear.

The old Buldhana Gazetteer published in 1910, has the following to say about this cottage industry. " There are two kinds of Chambhars, Maratha Chambhars, who make shoes, buckets, mots etc., but do not tan and Dohor Chambhars who are tanners and do other rough work but do not make boots or shoes. At Mehkar a colony of up-country Chambhars has been settled for about 20 years and they manufacture a special kind of white shoe known as selimshahi, the price of which varies from Re. 1 to Rs. 2. "

The artisans engaged in this industry undertake the work of currying, tanning, finishing of hides and skins, preparation of finished leather, manufacture of leather products such as suit-cases, key cases, whip and other articles, etc., in addition to repairing and manufacturing of shoes and other leather footwear.

Training Centres for leather workers have been established in Shegaon, Jalgaon, Mehkar, Sangrampur and Motala blocks of the district.

The process of manufacture is age old and hereditary training still prevails. In rural areas, artisans make use of family labour, but in urban areas, as the establishments are big, the independent character of artisans has disappeared and they work under employers.

The tools commonly used for leather working are the sewing machine, rappis, leather cutters, hammers, wooden, blocks, etc. The raw materials generally required by the artisans for leather work are dyed leather, rubber soles, polish, etc. Tanned leather is provided by the tanning industries. At present there are 14 leatherers' co-operative Societies in the district.

Blacksmithy.—The age old character of this industry is revealed from the following extract from old Buldhana Gazetteer published in 1910:

'' Ironsmiths belong to the following castes: Jingars, Lohars, Jirayats, Panchals and Ghisadis. Their work is of a rough and primitive nature and is practically confined to the making and repairing of agricultural implements. Only imported iron is used. There is a cutlery business at Buldhana owned by the firm of Nilkanth Brothers, but it is on a small scale, the four brothers employing none but their own labour. They obtained a silver medal and certificate at the Akola exhibition in 1868, and a gold medal and certificate at the Poona exhibition in 1888. They make locks, keys, scales, compasses, nut crackers, pen-knives, scissors and for special orders spear-heads and daggers. Their annual sales are said to average from Rs. 700 to Rs. 800. Some cutlery is also made at Deulghat but not of such good quality. Chikhli is famous for its small razors, which have a large local sale at 6 annas each. "

As per 1951 Census, 50 persons were employed in 21 establishments, undertaking blacksmithy manufacturing horse-shoes, other works in iron and in making of implements. These 21 establishments were located in the rural areas of Malkapur tahsil. The five similar establishments were located in the rural areas of the Mehkar tahsil. As per 1961 Census, there were 1,335 persons including 1,131 males, 204 females who are engaged as ' Blacksmiths, Hammersmiths and Forgemen. '

The blacksmiths make various agricultural implements like spades, axes and hoes as also domestic articles.

The tool-box of a blacksmith, generally consists of anvil, hammer, chisel, cutters, nails, screws etc.

The articles are made from iron-sheets which are brought from outside. There is one co-operative society of blacksmiths in the district, established with the object of improving the conditions of the artisans engaged in the industry. Government extends financial assistance in the form of loan to blacksmiths to enable them to purchase tools and equipment required by them.

Bamboo and Cane Work.- Bamboo and cane work industry is a novel industry and requires definite skill on the part of the artisan. Baskets are made of bamboo stripes. The industry in the district traditionally belongs to Burud and Mang communities.

As per 1951 Census there were 40 basket-making establishments in the rural areas of Malkapur tahsil, 3 in the rural areas of Chikhli tahsil, 4 in the rural areas of Mehkar tahsil and 33 in the non-city urban area of the district. The total number of persons engaged in all aforementioned basket making establishments was 154 in the same year. The 1961 Census reports the number of persons employed as ' Basketry Weavers and Related Workers' as 1,461 including 645 males and 816 females.

In addition to basket making, the artisans make supas (winnowing fans), topalis, karandis, etc.

First the bamboo stripes are taken out with koyata and are kept in water to smoothen. This makes the weaving of baskets easy. The products are mostly sold locally.

There are two co-operatives of bamboo and cane workers in the district. The earnings of the artisans are very meagre. There are two training centres imparting training regarding cane and bamboo work, one each in Shegaon and Jalgaon block.

Dyeing.—The industry is a hereditary occupation carried on by Rangaris, Ataris, and to a lesser extent by Kolis. Dyeing is carried at Nandura, Deulgaon Raja, Pimpalgaon Raja, Paturda, Wan-khed and Wadgaon. At one time, the dyes were prepared locally, but the introduction of alkaline dyes has done away with this profitable part of the industry.

Sometimes, dyers dye cloth brought to them by others while sometimes they themselves purchase cloth, dye it and put it for sale. The occupation today has, however, lost its former importance and the earnings of the artisan have also decreased.

There is one co-operative society of dyers and printers in the district.

Development of village industries like khadi, palm, gur, leather tanning, hand-pounding of rice, handmade paper, bee keeping are also undertaken in the district as the result of implementation of State Plan for development of cottage industries. The schemes for these industries are finalised in accordance with the amount of financial assistance sanctioned by the Commission for the purpose.

Miscellaneous Cottage Industries.—In addition to the industries described above there are some miscellaneous industries which are noted below:—

Tooth powder, stamping ink, menthol, furniture polish and candles are manufactured at Mehkar. Lanterns and cash boxes are made at Khamgaon. Fireworks and blasting powder are made at Malkapur. Gur is manufactured at Sengaon Jahagir in Chikhli tahsil by a multi-purpose co-operative society. Woollen blankets are manufactured at Khamgaon in Khamgaon tahsil and Sarangpur, Sultanpur and Sindkhed Raja in Mehkar tahsil.

In addition to the industrial co-operative societies in the district for different industries, there are two co-operative societies of adiwasis and forest labourers established in the district with the help of social workers. One of the objectives behind the establishment of these co-operatives is to provide adiwasis with wages according to their ability and to enable them to gain the profits of their own business. These societies also aim at training the adiwasis to work with a sense of co-operation and harmony combining physical as well as intellectual powers.

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