The Gazetteers Department

KHANAVALIS was another miscellaneous occupation in the city. At the time of survey there were 31 khanavalis in Kolhapur city. They were located in C and E wards. About 227 persons were employed in them, out of whom 40 including four females and four children were members of owners' families.

Three establishments were surveyed in the sample. Two were started in 1951 and one in 1955. The principal occupation of the three proprietors was to run a boarding house, which provided them employment throughout the year. The establishments were both, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. They were situated in rented premises.

The total capital invested in each establishment varied from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000. The initial investment in one of them was raised by the owner from his own capital. In the other two, a part of it was borrowed at 12 per cent, rate of interest and the remaining amount was raised by the owners from their own resources. It was found that one of the above two establishments had not repaid the debt fully.

Equipment in these establishments consisted of utensils required for cooking and serving dishes and furniture like tables and chairs. The value of the equipment varied from Rs. 700 to Rs. 800.

These establishments spent Rs. 280, 1,098 and 375 respectively on raw materials like food grains, vegetables, mutton, eggs and fuel. These articles were purchased from the local market. Other expenses were, rent of the premises, water and electric charges, municipal licence fee and advertisement. The rent of each establishment was Rs. 91, 73 and Rs. 56 per month respectively. The total expenditure per month on other items like water and electric charges, municipal licence fee and advertisement of the three establishments was Rs. 85.

The total employment in the three units was 21 persons out of whom three were members of owners' families. The working hours of these employees were eight per day. These employees were paid wages as well as served two meals a day. The wages of a cook varied from Rs. 8 to Rs. 30 per month. In one establishment a waiter was paid Rs. 8 in the other Rs. 10 and in the third Rs. 20 per month.

The total cost of production of each establishment was Rs. 415, Rs. 655 and Rs. 1,312 per month respectively.

These establishments were providing only boarding facilities. Regular boarders were provided with two meals a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening. The number of boarders each establishment had, was 150, 300, and 600 respectively. These khanavalis also catered the needs of casual customers, each serving 400, 480 and 900 casual customers a month. The rate per meal for a regular boarder was different from that of a casual boarder. A regular boarder had to pay As. 6 to As. 7 per meal and casual customer Re. 1 to Rs. 1-4-0 per meal. The number of boarders each establishment had, depended upon the quality of food served and cleanliness maintained in the establishment. The number of boarders was more or less constant throughout the year in the two establishments, while it was more in summer in the third establishment. The margin of profit in all the three units was not much as the net income of each was about Rs. 150 per month.

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