MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

FLOUR MILLING

Since rice is a staple food of the district, flour milling does not seem to be an important occupation. Till recently, women used to grind grains with grinding wheels in their own houses. A village or a town has one or two flour mills. In the absence of electricity, the establishments worked with oil engines except at Panvel and Mahad where they were run on electric energy. Grinding grains, de-husking rice and grinding chillies were the main occupations which provided employment throughout the year.

Electric motors, oil-engines, grinders, balances and other minor tools constituted the main equipment. The cost of equipment in these shops varied from Rs. 1,600 to Rs. 3,000. The cost of repairing equipment varied from Rs. 150 to Rs. 400 per year. Almost all establishments raised the initial capital from their own resources.

Establishments were situated in rented premises, the rent of which varied from Rs. 15 to Rs. 30 per month. The other items on which expenditure was incurred were electric energy, diesel oil, etc.

Most of the establishments were managed by proprietors with the help of assistants. However, where they appointed employees the latter were paid between Rs. 40 and Rs. 50 per month.

The rate usually charged for grinding grains varied from six to nine Naye Paise per paylee of four seers. The business in these establishments was brisk during winter and summer. Most of them were small in size and were located in temporary sheds and a few in pucca buildings. In Pen, Panvel and Karjat, rice dehusking mills and flour mills were both situated in the same premises worked with the same oil engines.

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