The Gazetteers Department

There were 46 laundry establishments in the two towns; 42 in Jalgaon and four in Amalner, at the time of the survey. The total employment in them at both the places was 105. The establishments were mostly managed by owners with the help of their family members. Only eight employees were engaged in them as paid workers. Four establishments in Amalner were exclusively managed by owners with their family members who numbered five.

All the four establishments in Amalner were situated in Wards No. I and II. In Jalgaon, out of 42 establishments, 12 were situated in Ward No. V, 10 in Ward No. VIII, four in Ward No. IX and three each in Ward Nos. I, II and VII, and ten and two in Ward Nos. IV and VI. In Amalner, laundering was a hereditary occupation of two establishments out of the four surveyed; the other two were started in 1930 and 1956. In Jalgaon, one establishment each was started in the following years, 1949, 1952 and 1956. Laundering was the principal occupation in all of them in both the towns, which provided them employment throughout the year.

Establishments in Amalner were small units. The four shops there had one table each; two had one iron each and two others two irons each. One shop had a cupboard. The cost of equipment varied from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per shop. Establishments in Jalgaon had the same equipment. One shop had also a bullock cart. The total cost of equipment of the establishment which was having a bullock cart was Rs. 400. The cost of equipment of the remaining two varied from Rs. 120 to Rs. 150.

All the establishments in the sample in Amalner employed nine persons, of whom only two were paid employees. One was paid Rs. 25 per month, the other, who was employed on daily wages, was paid rupee one per day. Three establishments in Jalgaon did not employ any paid employee nor did they spend any amount on municipal tax, water, etc.

Washing soda. soap, bleaching powder, and indigo were the materials used in washing. The total cost of the materials consumed by the three establishments in Jalgaon was about Rs. 250 per mouth. One of them consumed these materials worth Rs. 150. Establishments in Amalner consumed the same materials. The total cost including expenditure on fuel of the establishments surveyed in Jalgaon was between Rs. 80 and Rs. 150 per month.

All the establishments except one in Jalgaon raised the initial capital from their own resources. The one in Jalgaon bad borrowed it. but was repaid. All of them were situated in rented premises. Rent of a shop in Jalgaon varied from Rs. 12 to Rs. 20 per month and in Amalner from Rs. 5 to Rs. 15. Other expenses incurred, by them on maintenance were electricity charges and wages paid to their employees. Two establishments in Jalgaon used electricity for lighting and paid Rs. 5 each per month for it. Out of four establishments in Amalner one was using electricity for lighiting. It consumed electric energy worth Rs. 2-8-O per month. In Jalgaon. 'he net income of each shop varied from Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per month and in Amalner from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 per month.

These establishments worked for 8 to 10 hours a day. Their business was usually brisk during winter and summer. Two establishments in Jalgaon had specialised in dry cleaning. Rates charged in Amalner were Re. 0-1-3 for washing cotton garment, Re. 0-1-0 for ironing cotton garment and Rs. 6 for washing 100 garment-. and rates charged in Jalgaon were Re. 0-1-6 to Re. 0-4-0 for cotton garment. Re. 1 for silk pant, Rs. 2 for silk coat, Rs. 1-8-0 for woollen pant and Rs. 2 for woollen coat.

Customers usually plated orders with these shops. In Amalner, in addition to orders placed by customers, they collected clothes from house to house for washing.

TOP