The Gazetteers Department

People in this group were from well-to-do families. This group was composed of big landlords, prosperous businessmen, doctors, commission agents, industrialists, highly paid government and non-government officials, pleaders, owners of transport companies etc. The income of these people ranged from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 25,000 per annum or even more.

The consumption pattern of this group differed remarkably from that of the other two groups. Increase in income automatically increases the purchasing power. Items of luxury and comforts took prominent place in the consumption list of this class.

The monthly expenditure of this group ranged from Rs. 250 to Rs. 400. More than 50 per cent of the total expenditure was earmarked for necessities of life. In the category of food, cereals and pulses accounted for about 44 per cent of the expenditure. Among the rest of the food items, milk and milk products, oil and vegetables accounted for 21 per cent, 10 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.

The general pattern of expenditure has undergone a remarkable change, especially in this higher income group. The tendency of the people to have luxurious and comfortable living made them set aside a major part of their expenditure just to have the possession of such costly articles, which were to be rarely seen in the past, as radio sets, watches, electric fans, etc. Well-to-do families own bungalows, motor cars and motor-cycles. New finds in the field of cloth as terylene, decron, terywool, terene, rayon, nylon also take away a good share of their expenditure on non-food articles. The varieties of clothing differ widely in quality, fashion, decency and usage.

Educational expenditure was another significant constituent of a family budget of this group. In some of the families a fairly good amount was spent for this purpose.

Rent another important constituent assumed a prime position in the expenditure list of this group. The houses were attractive, spacious, well-ventilated and in most cases with gardens. Such accommodation necessarily demands high rents which only the rich can afford to pay. However, the survey showed that more than 50 per cent of the families surveyed had their own houses.

In addition, they had costly furniture consisting of dining table, chairs, cots, cup-boards either made of wood or iron and steel, sofa-sets, full size mirrors and the like.

Besides, the household equipment of these families consisted of brass and copper utensils, crockery and stainless steel articles. Some of them possessed silver utensils as well. Some families reported their possession of gold and silver ornaments. Among costly garments shalu, paithanis, shawls, jari articles, woollen and terylene clothes were common.

After allowing a considerable amount of their total income for meeting expenses on necessaries, luxuries and comforts of life, people in this group, could save a portion of their income so as to provide for the future. A part of the income thus saved was invested in insurance policies, national savings certificates, shares and hank deposits. The total savings of the families surveyed were reported to the tune of Rs. 2 lakhs. Some debt was also reported. This was, for business purposes and was drawn with the intention of making long term investment in land, house and machinery.

The survey revealed that almost all persons received a good education. University education was a common phenomena in this group especially among the boys.

Group II.

The middle-income group consists of land holders, traders, employees in Government and private offices, teachers, doctors, pleaders, etc. The annual income of this group ranges between Rs. 1,200 and Rs, 3,000. This group constituted the "white collared gentry" and balanced its income and expenditure to get maximum satisfaction out of the limited resources leaving behind a fraction as savings.

The consumption pattern of this class widely differed from that of group I and group III.

The total monthly expenditure of a household ranged between Rs. 130 and Rs. 175. Of the total expenditure 64 per cent was for food group out of which 34 per cent was for the purchase of cereals and pulses. Milk and its products, vegetables and oils consumed 15 per cent, 5 per cent and 5.67 per cent, respectively. Spices and sundry goods accounted for the rest. Amongst the non-food items clothing, medical aid and education assumed the highest priority. Education absorbed a sizeable portion of a family's expenditure. Almost in all the families surveyed, due importance was given to education. Expenditure on clothing was a lion's share of the total expenditure as people desired to look decent and fashionable. It was noticed that expenditure on travelling and entertainment was on the increase.

Literacy and education.—Proportion of literacy was the same as in the case of a higher income group. It is education which signified them as white-collared gentry.

After meeting all the expenses a fraction of income was left out. This was either invested in insurance policies or in National Saving Certificates. Possession of gold and silver ornaments was also reported. Very few persons had incurred debts. Their household equipment consisted of utensils, mainly of stainless steel, furniture, clocks, radio, cycle, etc.

The condition of housing was in keeping with the levels of their income.

Group III.

This group stands at the lowest rung of the economic ladder of the community and is composed of salary earners, landless labourers, craftsmen, village servants, herdsmen, petty shopkeepers and unskilled workers. These people strive very hard for the attainment of even the bare necessities of life. Underemployment and instability of employment subject them to hardship and poor standard of living.

As many as 135 families were surveyed which revealed that a household, generally, consisted of four adults and three minors, out of whom one or two members were employed.

The monthly income of a household ranged between Rs. 80 and Rs. 100, the main source of income being service. With this they were unable to make both ends meet. The total expenditure outran the total income. The gap was filled by borrowing.

While the monthly income of a household was between Rs. 80 and Rs. 100, the average monthly expenditure was around Rs. 115.

They had to do without even some of the items of daily consumption like oil. milk and vegetables. Out of the total expenditure 43.18. 5.52. 6.19, 8.16, 7.18 per cent were spent on cereals, oils, vegetables, milk and other items, respectively. To them expenditure on non-food group was a luxury. The survey revealed that only 3.24, 1.70 and 3.70 per cent, respectively, were spent on education, rent and medical aid. Clothing accounted for 14.38 per cent of the total expenditure.

Most of the families surveyed stayed in rented premises. The housing condition was miserable and they were exposed to sun and rain. Their houses were ill-ventilated and highly congested.

Household equipment consisted of brass and aluminium utensils, earthen-ware and scanty bedding sets. Out. of the total families survived very few had any savings. The total savings amounted to Rs. 14,725 of which Rs. 4,025 and Rs. 10,700 were in cash and in paper securities, respectively. Their debt was to the tune of Rs. 57.110. Almost every family was in debt, drawn mainly for the purpose of meeting household needs. Most of the families had no costly possessions such as. clothes, watches, cycles, etc. or gold and silver ornaments.

Before the commencement of the free education scheme for economically backward class students, very few people could afford to educate their children. Children above ten years of age were employed in gainful employment in order to assist the lone earning member.

This scheme of free education has helped considerably in raising the educational standard of this class The number of graduate and double graduates from this class is gradually on the increase. The scheme has not only helped in raising the educational status of this class but has also helped to improve its economic condition and social prestige as well.

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