MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

LAUNDERING.

THESE TWO TOWNS HAD 20 WASHING COMPANIES (11 at Chiplun and nine at Ratnagiri) at the time of survey. Most of them were located in ward Nos. III and VII at Chiplun and III and IV at Ratnagiri. The total employment in them, at both the places was 55, out of whom 13 were paid employees and 42 including two children were employers and their family members. Six establishments, three at Chiplun and three at Ratnagiri, were selected for the survey.

These establishments in the sample were started between 1945 and 1956. Laundering was the main occupation which provided employment to the workers throughout the year. Five of these owners raised the initial capital required for starting establishments from their own resources. One of them from Chiplun had borrowed it. A part of it was paid till 1959. One establishment at Ratnagiri had three irons and three tables for ironing and two cupboards for keeping garments. Two others had one iron each, two tables each, and a few cupboards. The last one had one iron and two ordinary cupboards. At Chiplun one had one iron and four cupboards. The other two had two irons each. The total value of equipment in the six establishments varied from Rs. 200 to Rs, 600 per shop. The total capital investment in them varied from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,000 per shop.

All establishments surveyed were situated in rented premises, rent of each at Ratnagiri varied from Rs. 14 to Rs. 20 and at Chiplun from Rs. 8 to Rs. 15 per month. Two establishments from Ratnagiri and three from Chiplun used electric energy for lighting and ironing purposes. Their total bill on electricity at Chiplun was Rs. 12 and at Ratnagiri Rs. 5 per month. In addition to electricity charges, two of them each at Ratnagiri and at Chiplun paid Rs. 2 per year as municipal licence fee. Two shops from Ratnagiri and three from Chiplun were managed by the owners with the help of their family members. One of the shops paid Rs. 2-8-0 to employees for washing 100 clothes.

Raw materials required were soap, washing soda, bleaching powder, tinopal and charcoal or wood which was used as fuel. All these articles were purchased from the local market. On an average each shop consumed these raw materials worth Rs. 60 per month. The margin of profit in the business was not very high. It was just enough to maintain them. Their business was brisk during summer and winter only.

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