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BANKING TRADE AND COMMERCE
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HAWKERS
Hawkers were important constituents of retail trade in the past. Hawking provided a means of livelihood to a number of persons. The hawkers used to bring their merchandise from nearby towns.
These itinerary traders who form a part of retailers even at present, sell vegetables, fresh fruits, dry fruits,, nuts, sprouted grains, coconuts, betel-leaves, pickles, fish, bread, sweetmeats, cloth, hosiery, ice-cream, tea leaves, toffees, utensils, earthenware, toys, stationery, cutlery, grocery, oil, agarbattis, bidis, spices, footwear, and a number of other miscellaneous articles. They purchase their stock-in-trade from wholesale dealers in towns, either on credit or on cash basis. They sell the goods, very often, on a narrow profit margin. They carry the articles either in hand-carts or as head-loads.
The Miraj. Sangli and Islampur municipalities have framed rules and made it compulsory for a hawker to obtain a licence. Every hawker has to pay a licence fee.
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