The Gazetteers Department

This income group is composed of well-to-do families who enjoy a higher level of income. In this group can be included rich land-lords, big cultivators, prosperous businessmen, highly-placed government or non-government officials and persons engaged in liberal professions like doctors, pleaders, heads of big educational and cultural institutions, etc. The monthly average income of a family in this group amounts to about Rs. 320. Of the 80 families surveyed, 14 were found to have an annual income of Rs. 6,000 and over. The purchasing power of this class is substantially higher than that of the remaining two classes. With an increase in income, the percentage expenditure on items of daily consumption like cereals, pulses spices, etc., remained more or less constant whereas percentage expenditure on articles of comfort and luxury showed an upward trend.

A small section of population representing this class spends a larger proportion of the expenditure on articles of comfort and luxury.

This group has its own distinct features. Their dwellings are more specious, well-ventilated and in many cases have small gardens in front of them. The house-hold equipment of this class consists of valuable furniture, costly utensils and superior type of clothing. The possession of articles like radio sets, gold and silver ornaments, and vehicles also distinguish this class from the other two classes. The third distinguishing feature of this class is the higher percentage of expenditure on items like milk, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, education, entertainment, etc. A few families belonging to this class can afford to engage a domestic servant.

Nearly half of the total expenditure is incurred on food. Among food items expenditure on cereals and pulses is the highest and accounts for 38 per cent, of the expenditure on food. Milk and vegetables figure next and account for 21 per cent of the expenditure on food. The expenditure on vegetables amounts to 9 per cent. Most of the family budgets show that their percentage expenditure on items such as sugar, gul, tea, fish, eggs and meat has increased with additions to the family incomes.

Clothing is the most important item of expenditure in the non-food group. The standard of clothing differs widely in quantity, fashion, decency and usage. Every family spends about Rs. 350 and above on clothing per year.

Education and rent come next in the order. Each of them accounts for about 12 per cent of the expenditure on the nonfood group. Expenditure on entertainment, lighting, medical aid, religious rituals and social obligations is 10 per cent, 6 per cent, 6 per cent, 4 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.

As pointed out earlier, house-holds in this group have a surplus of income over expenditure. In most cases this surplus is invested in life insurance, National Savings Certificates, shares and units of the Unit Trust of India, etc. A number of well-to-do persons have bank deposits or cash savings. Some families belonging to this group are found to have incurred debts for purposes of business or long-term investment in land, house or machinery.

Half of the families surveyed possess their own houses. Except a few houses built in modern style and architectural design during the last 10 years or so, a majority of houses are built of stones and pucca bricks. Most of them are equipped with separate bathrooms and lavatories. Use of electricity is restricted to lighting purposes. Families staying in rented premises have to pay a rent of about Rs. 40 for two rooms and a kitchen. A few houses have small gardens in front of them.

Most of the houses in this group are well-furnished. The furniture includes chairs, tables, cup-boards, cots and almirahs The house-hold equipment of these families consists of brass and copper utensils, crockery, stainless steel articles, etc. Some families also possess silver articles. About 60 families reported possession of gold and silver ornaments. Many families possess their own radio sets, gramophones, etc. Nearly half of the families possess garments like shalus, paithanis, shawls and jari articles. Bedding sets consist of mattresses, chaddars, rugs, blankets, pillows, carpets, etc. A majority of families keep their own bicycles. A few of them own vehicles like, car, motor-cycle or tonga.

The sample survey reveals that nearly all the families are educated. A majority of members receive both primary and secondary education. The number of men receiving University education is much more than that of women. Education in fine arts has become more popular with some members of this group.

Group II

The annual income of families in this group varies between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 3,000. This group includes persons who represent the traditional middle class. It includes teachers, retailers, mechanics, tailors, small land-owners and the salaried class of the clerical rank. The family in this group consists usually of five members (three adults and two minors). On an average there are one and a half earners in each family. In some families earning dependents are also found.

Of the 150 families surveyed from this group about one-fourth are found to have contracted debts for meeting expenses on sickness, marriages and other exigencies of life. Moneylenders, traders and, in some cases, banks provide them with loans.

Food consumption accounts for about 55 per cent of the total family expenditure of this group. Nearly 56 per cent of the total expenditure on food is incurred on cereals and pulses. Milk and milk products claim about 12 per cent. Next in order are vegetables and oils which account for 11 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively.

Among non-food items, clothing, rent, education and medical treatment are more important. The percentage of expenditure on clothing is more or less the same as in case of families in group I. Expenses on medicines are 14 per cent. Rent and education account for 10 per cent each.

An average family in this group does not spend much on travel or small excursions whereas cosmetics and entertainment absorb only a small fraction of expenditure.

The families in this group have a small surplus of income over expenditure. This surplus is invested in life insurance, savings certificates, provident fund, etc. Many of these families deposit the amount in postal savings banks. The cumulative time savings deposit scheme has become quite popular in the district.

Some families hold their savings in cash either because it is the most liquid form or because the amounts are too small.

A few families have borrowed money from money-lenders to meet their family expenditure or incidental expenditure on medical treatment, ceremonies and improvement in agriculture. The rate of interest paid by them varies between 9 per cent and 12½ per cent per annum.

These families use brass and copper utensils, German silver utensils and some earthen wares. In respect of furniture, they possess chairs, stools, small tables, cup-boards and cots. A bicycle is a common possession in these families. It provides a cheaper means of transport.

In respect of literacy and education, this class does not lag behind, even though, the standard of literacy differs remarkably as compared to that of group I. All families in this group are quite aware of the growing importance of education. Generally speaking, women are found to lag behind their men folk. Even the number of men who receive college education up to graduation level is modest.

Group III

This group comprises a vast majority of persons forming the lowest stratum of the urban population. They are petty roadside shopkeepers, hawkers, shoe-makers, washermen, barbers, tin-smiths, carpenters, unskilled or semi-skilled workers, coolies, cooks, cobblers, potters, etc. Their housing conditions, food habits and the way of living differ very much from the other two groups.

The average size of the family consists of six and a half units (four adults and five children). There are generally two earners in each family on whom all the members of the family depend for their livelihood. The average estimated earnings of the 93 families surveyed are Rs. 90 per month.

Nearly 70 per cent of the family expenditure is incurred on food and clothing. Out of this, 61 per cent is on food and 9 per cent on clothing. Cereals and pulses account for about 68 per cent of the expenditure on food. Next in importance are oils and milk. They together account for 20 per cent of the expenditure.

People of this class put on coarse clothes. Their expenditure on medicines, education and entertainment is very insignificant. Poverty often prevents education to even deserving children. Borrowing money for meeting the needs of consumption from money-lenders and businessmen at exorbitant rates of interest ranging up to 25 per cent is a common feature. The rate of interest is higher in case of loans on personal security. How-ever, the amount of such advances does not usually exceed Rs. 500.

The housing condition of the families in this group is far from satisfactory. The houses are not well-ventilated. The general scarcity of potable water is a major handicap faced by some people in many parts of the district. At some places water has to be brought from a distance of 3.219 to 4.827 km. (2 to 3 miles) and sold at a rate of Rs. 4 for 1818.38 litres (400 gallons) to daily customers.

The families in this group use brass and copper utensils and earthen pots. Tin-drums or wooden buckets are often used for storing water. Their bedding usually consists of one carpet, one kambli (blanket of coarse wool) and a chaddar. Some house-holds possess a few ornaments which are very often mortgaged with money-lenders. They also possess tools required for carrying out their jobs. Occasionally a family is found to own a bicycle or a bullock cart.

The percentage of literacy is very low in this class. It is more or less restricted to the primary stage only. Obviously, as they are living from hand to mouth, they could not provide educational facilities to their children in the past. However, the situation has improved much recently. The government provides free educational facilities to boys and girls whose family income does not exceed Rs. 1,200 per annum. Education which was denied to them by poverty has now come within their easy reach, and a wide field is opened for them.