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MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS
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BICYCLE REPAIRING SHOPS
Bicycle repairing shops have increased in number with the in-creasing use of the machine in villages as well as in towns. The bicycle affords an easy means of conveyance involving less cost but assured punctuality. The shops are found dispersed in towns and big villages as well.
The accessories used by a cycle-repairing shop consist of spare parts, screw drivers, bolts, nuts, handles, bearings, etc. The tools and equipment of a repairing shop consist of cycles for hiring, a table, a chair, etc. The sample survey disclosed that the tools and equipment of a medium sized unit comprised one table, 15 cycles, etc., and the fixed capital invested varied from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 20,000. Some shop owners were indebted, the maximum debt in case of one being Rs. 5,000. The shops employed 1 or 3 workers in addition to the labour supplied by the family. The workers received by way of wages Rs. 80 to Rs. 120 per month.
The cycles were given on hire on an hourly basis. Some cycle shops undertook repairing of cycles in addition to above or as a separate occupation. They also undertook in addition repairing of stoves, petromaxes, drums, etc.
The monthly net income of the five medium-sized shops surveyed was found to range between Rs. 300 and Rs. 1,500.
The 1961 District Census, Buldhana, records the number of persons engaged in the 'repairing of bicycles and tricycles' at 234.
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