MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

BAKERY

With the growing importance the processed foodstuff has attained the recent past, it is a common sight to come across, in a place with population of a few thousands, what is called a bakery. The existence of bakeries at most of the taluka places is a sure indication of the fact that the consumption of processed food-stuff—particularly the bread does not seem to be restricted to a few classes as perhaps was the case a few years before, but has spread over to the people en masse. Perhaps this reflects the capacity of the people to assimilate in their dietary, the novelties and delicacies of western food habits. Bakeries seem to have gained popularity due to cheapness and ready availability of their products. Started originally to supply the needs of European Officials and later of a selected few among the Indians who had just begun to develop a new taste for Western habits, the bakeries gradually assumed growth across the length and breadth of our country. Yet, the fact remains that the processed foodstuff has not succeeded in substituting the main constituents of daily food of the average Indian. This provides perhaps a basic limitation to the growth of this occupation to its full height. The district is well-nigh a poverty-stricken region. Except, therefore, at big towns such as Panvel, Pen, Alibag, Mahad and Karjat among others the bakeries do not seem to have made their appearance anywhere in the district and even where they are found to operate, their establishment on a large scale is a rare occurrence. Yet, there is no gainsaying the fact that employment provided by the occupation has been on the increase during the last many years. The various Censuses give the following figures in this connection: —

* The occupational statistics for the year are not available.

† The figure does not cover the district fully. It is exclusive of the employment in the Janjira State, the same being not obtainable in the Census of 1921.

‡ A separate head of bakeries in the occupational statistics of population is not available in the census of 1931.

§ The occupational statistics for this year are not available.

l| Includes bakery and other food industries.

 It appears that the occupation serves its incumbents as a principal means of livelihood and that it is not hereditary in its nature. In many parts of the district, where bakeries exist, the latter are found to occupy a place at busy localities probably in the proximity of hotels. Not infrequently are the bakeries housed as extensions of hotels under the same or a different management. A sample survey was conducted so as to obtain a broad picture of important features of the occupation. At the time of our survey, there were five bakeries at Alibag and eight bakeries at Mahad, distributed as below: —

The survey was restricted to a few important towns including; Panvel, Pen, Alibag and Roha and data was obtained on the important features of the occupations such as raw-materials, capital requirements, tools and equipment, labour, production, etc. The findings based on it are embodied in subsequent pages.

Accessories.

Raw-materials consumed by a bakery consist of maida, sugar, hydrogenated oil, soda, etc., and are all available locally. The extent of these depended on the volume of turnover. Our sample survey revealed that an average unit consumed ten maunds of maida, one and a half maunds of sugar and the necessary quantity of hydrogenated oil which costs it roundabout Rs. 15 per day. It was understood that a large-sized unit used raw-materials of up to Rs. 30 per day but except at big towns like Panvel, Pen and Alibag such an occurrence in the district is rare. In the case of a small unit, these requirements can be said to amount to from Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 a day.

Tools and Equipment.

A large wooden table to prepare a dough, ovens and the accessory equipment such as trays, small iron sheet boxes to bake, long iron rods, vessels, moulds, etc., are the usual items a bakery is found to have in the course of its operation, the number of items depending on the size of the shop. The cost of an oven ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500 according to its size. Besides, a bakery is found to have a cup-board or two to accommodate the raw-materials as well as its products. The cost of tools and equipment, as revealed by our sample survey, averages from Rs. 900 to Rs. 3,000 according to the size of the unit.

Capital.

There is no capital other than one required for tools and equip- ment. The amount of working capital in bakeries varies between Rs. 100 and Rs. 2,000, depending on the extent and variety of products taken. Where the ovens are small, they consume fuel such as wood and coal, turn out small produce and absorb a small investment. Where, however, the ovens are large, they are run on electric power, turn out production on a large scale and absorb a fairly large investment. Our sample survey revealed that the incumbents of the occupation did not resort to borrowings for the purpose of raising capital and, in most cases, brought in their own funds.

Labour.

Of the establishments covered by the survey, a majority were only one-man units and the proprietors occasionally took assistance of their family members. They looked after purchasing raw-materials, preparing the products and arranging for their disposal. As the shops do not fall within the purview of the Municipal Shops and Establishments Act, the working hours are nowhere fixed. Furthermore, the nature and the odd timing of work are the factors that prevent the proprietor from prescribing rigid hours of work. In establishments where outside labour is employed, wages obtained at varying rates, depending on the nature of work or skill involved in it. Thus, an unskilled worker is paid one and a half rupees, while a baker twice as much a day.

Turnover.

The bakeries are engaged in turning out such products as bread, butter, cakes, biscuits, etc., although bread alone accounts for a significant portion of. the total turnover. The units sell the products on a wholesale as well as retail basis. They are also said to pass a small discount on bulk orders. This is usually the case when grocers buy their requirements of baked products for being retailed to direct consumers. The extent of turnover is determined by the size of the shop. However, in the case of an average establishment, it varies between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000 per annum.

 Income and expenditure.

As most of the units conduct business on a small scale, they arc required to spend a small amount as recurring and non-recurring expenditure. The sample survey disclosed that an average establishment spent about Rs. 500 as non-recurring expenditure and about Rs.1,000 as recurring expenditure. Further, as bulk of the transactions are made on cash terms, there is hardly any locking up of capital and the risk of bad debts is almost absent. An average establishment earns a net income varying between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 3,000 per annum.

Thus, bakeries in the district have a limited business. However, it has improved during recent years. A constant contact with the adjacent cities has developed a taste for baked products in the interior parts of the district. Due to the low purchasing capacity of the people, however, these products do not have a very wide demand even locally.

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