MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

FLOUR MILLING.

THE NUMBER OF FLOUR MILLS IN Two TOWNS was 20, out of which 14, were at Chiplun and 6 at Ratnagiri. At Chiplun most of the mills were located in Ward Nos. III, V, VI, VII and only one each in ward Nos. I and VIII and at Ratnagiri one each in ward Nos. I, IV, V, VI and two in Ward No. II. The total employment in these establishments at both the places was 66, including 30 male paid employees; two children paid employees and one woman paid employee; 33 owners had their family members to help them. Three flour mills in Chiplun were selected to serve as samples in the survey. All of them were started between 1951 and 1954.

Flour milling was the main occupation of one establishment and subsidiary of the two others whose main occupation was dealing in cloth and grains. One of the establishments borrowed the initial capital required for starting the establishment. Two others raised it from their own resources.

All these establishments consumed electricity. They had electric motors, varying from 7½ H.P. to 10 H.P., grinding stones and other minor tools. In addition to these tools, one was having a huller for dehusking paddy. The cost of equipment in each shop varied from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000. Each shop spent Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 on repairs or replacements. Capital investment in each shop varied from Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 3,500.

Two shops were situated in rented premises. One was paying Rs. 60 and the other Rs. 200 per year as rent. The third was situated in owned premises. Their bill on electricity per month was between Rs. 60 and Rs. 125. Each establishment was managed by the owner with the help of an employee, who was employed on fixed wages of Rs. 50 per month. The establishments had a working day of eight hours. They worked from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Business was more or less continuous throughout the year. They served the local people as well as those from nearby villages which provided them with good business. The margin of profit in this business was therefore considerable.

GOLDSMITHY.

THERE WERE 37 ESTABLISHMENTS OF GOLDSMITHS AND JEWELLERS, in Chiplun and 10 in Ratnagiri. Most of them at Chiplun were located in Ward No. VII and at Ratnagiri in Ward Nos. III and IV. The total employment in them at both the places was 98, out of whom 15 were paid employees and the remaining 83 including three children were owners and their family members. Three establishments at Chiplun and two at Ratnagiri were selected for survey. The samples at Chiplun did not furnish the necessary information.

The shops surveyed at Ratnagiri were started in 1944 and in 1945. Goldsmithy was their principal occupation which provided employment throughout the year. They raised the initial capital from their resources. They manufactured gold and silver ornaments.

Tools and equipment were those required for making gold and silver ornaments. Each establishment had anvil, hammers, bellows, pincers, pots and crucibles, moulds, nails and other tools required for preparing ornaments. In addition to these tools, they had some furniture also. The total cost of equipment in each shop varied from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000.

The two establishments in the sample were located in rented premises, and paid Rs. 9 and Rs. 10 each as rent per month. They spent Rs. 8 per month on electricity. There were no paid employees.

Customers from nearby towns and villages placed orders for ornaments, providing them with required gold or silver. In a few cases they purchased raw materials from local sarafs. The demand for the work was usually concentrated in the period from October to June.

Business was usually dull in the rainy season, but was quite brisk in summer. The average income of the establishments was just enough to keep them going in the business.

The business of almost all goldsmiths and jewellers in the towns was just enough to maintain their establishments. Lack of capital and improved tools were the main causes leading to the deterioration in business.

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