MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

LAUNDERING

Generally, laundries are situated in the towns and very rarely in the villages. In villages these services are rendered by dhobis, belonging to a particular community. They go from house to house for the collection of clothes for washing and return them in the same manner. In towns in most cases, the customers take the clothes to the laundry and collect the same themselves.

Most of the establishments in the district are situated in Sangli and Miraj. There are a few shops at Ashta, Khanapur and Vita. Some of them undertake only ironing. Big laundries undertake services such as washing, dying, ironing, drycleaning, darning, etc. Some of them have electric washing machines.

Employment.

The 1951 census enumerated the total number of dhobis at 504 in the former South Satara district. The census of 1961 enumerates 1.052 persons as engaged in this occupation which includes washermen, dry cleaners, pressers, dhobis, etc.

A survey of the establishments of different sizes and of different income groups was conducted in Sangli district. It revealed that those who have taken up the occupation in cities have been pursuing it as their principal means of livelihood. In rural areas, it is a secondary means. Washerman in villages, in most cases, takes to agriculture if he owns a piece of land or otherwise works as a labourer on others farms.

Accessories.

Soap, washing soda, bleaching powder, starch, indigo and tino-pal constitute the accessories of a washing establishment. In addition firewood and charcoal are used as fuel. The consumption of these materials depends on the total turnover of an establishment. The survey revealed that an average establishment spent about Rs. 50 to Rs. 70 on these items. Two establishments, one in Sangli and the other in Miraj, were found to have spent Rs. 800 and Rs. 655 respectively on these items.

Tools and Equipments.

A small unit possesses tools and equipment such as a broken table or two, and an iron, and in many cases low-flat stools in addition. An average unit has table and chair, mostly of old type with open shelf for keeping the washed and ironed clothes. Such a unit may have more than one iron, depending upon the total turnover. The trough and buckets are the other items of equipment. Some big laundries use modern washing machines, electric irons, tables, chairs and shelves. The cost, of the equipment of a small unit is about Rs. 200 and that of medium size from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,200. A large sized unit in Sangli was found to have invested about Rs. 2,500 for purchasing its equipment.

Labour.

The nature of the occupation is such that the whole family, in some cases, serves as the working unit. In laundries, the working hours are fixed partly in the morning and partly in the evening. Workers are paid on piece-rate basis for the work of washing and ironing they undertake. In some big laundries different persons are allotted the work of washing, ironing, etc. Generally, they are paid between Rs. 1.50 and Rs. 3 daily.

The work of ironing and washing of clothes, bed sheets, etc., is undertaken. They also provide for drycleaning of woollen and silk articles.

Income.

The income of the units varied according to their size. The smallest unit earned about Rs. 80 per month. The income of medium-size unit varied between Rs. 200 and Rs. 250 while the big laundries earned more than Rs. 800 per month.

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