MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

CYCLE REPAIRING

Cycle-repairing was one of the most important occupations employing 142 persons including 31 paid employees in Satara and Karad, where there were 79 cycle repairers and dealers. Most of them in Satara were located in Wards No. V, VI, VII and VIII. Only eight were located in Wards No. II and III. In Karad, 36 were located in Shaniwar and Guruwar peths and only seven in Mangalwar and Raviwar peths. Nine samples were chosen from each of the three towns, Satara, Karad and Phaltan. All these establishments were started after 1949. Their main occupation was to repair and sell bicycles and spare parts and to give bicycles on hire.

The capital investment in them in Satara varied from Rs. 700 to Rs. 3,000, in Karad from Rs. 400 to Rs. 4,000, and in Phaltan from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 8,000. All proprietors raised the initial capital from their own resources. No establishment had any debt at the time of survey.

The total number of bicycles kept for hire in these shops varied from 4 to 50 in Satara, 16 to 30 in Karad and 5 to 16 in Phaltan. Besides bicycles, some shops kept spare-parts like tubes, tyres which were brought from Bombay, Delhi, Sangli etc., for sale. They maintained all tools and equipment required for repairing bicycles. The cost of repairing these articles varied from Rs. 15 to Rs. 50 per month per shop. They also paid bicycle tax varying from Rs. 6 to Rs. 15 per month for the whole unit to the respective municipalities.

Each employee was paid between Rs. 20 and Rs. 45 as wages per month. A mechanic who repaired bicycles was paid Rs. 45 per month and other employees between Rs. 20 and Rs. 35 per month.

Business in all establishments was brisk during the summer and the winter. The net income of these establishments varied from Rs. 50 to Rs. 300 per month. Shortage of supply of bicycle tubes and tyres was one of the difficulties experienced by these shops.

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