MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

TAILORING

Tailoring was one of the biggest occupations in the three towns. At the time of survey, there were 237 establishments which employed 405 persons in Satara and Karad. Of the 237 establishments 134 were in Satara and 103 in Karad. In Satara, 57 establishments were located in Ward No. Ill; 25 in Ward No. V; 16 in Ward No. VIII; 14 in Ward No. VI; eight in Ward No. IV; and seven each in Ward Nos. II and VII. Of the total number of tailoring establishments in Karad, 47 were located in Guruwar peth; 23 and 21 in Raviwar and Shaniwar peths; 6 in Somwar peth and 6 each in Mangalwar and Shukrawar peths. The total employment in 134 establishments in Satara was 197 of whom 45 were paid employees and the remaining were owners and their family members. The occupation provided full time employment.

Three shops from each of the three towns viz., Satara, Karad and Phaltan were selected for the sample survey These shops were started between 1937 and 1949. Tailoring was their principal occupation Almost all establishments had raised the initial capital from their own resources.

Sewing, machines, scissors, irons etc. were the main tools and equipment used. Most of these establishments used second-hand, machines. The small sized units worked with one machine. The medium sized with two to three machines. The biggest units had 5 to 6 machines each. The cost of machine varied from Rs. 150 to Rs. 400. New sewing machines were usually purchased from local agents of the manufacturing firm and second-hand from local markets In addition, they had a few pieces of furniture like show cases, cupboards, tables, chairs etc. The total value of equipment in each shop varied from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,500. These shops were situated in rented premises; the rent varied from Rs. 10 to Rs. 35 per month. The smallest unit  paid Rs. 10 per month, and the biggest Rs. 35 per month as rent. All the nine units surveyed in the sample used electricity for lighting. Electricity charges varied between Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 per month.

These shops spent Rs. 15 to Rs. 60 per month, on items like thread, buttons and cocoanut oil, which were purchased from local markets. The total number of persons employed in all these shops was 28 out of whom 15 were paid employees. Three shops at Satara, Karad and Phaltan were exclusively managed by the owners with the help of their family members. Employees were paid at piece rate. Almost all shops paid them at a rate of half the amount charged to the customer for the work done. The principle of division of labour was found to be followed in these shops. The work of taking measurements and cutting the cloth accordingly was done generally by the owner himself. Stitching was done by skilled employees and other work like stitching buttons or preparing button holes was done by the members of employers' families or was entrusted to casual unskilled labour.

These shops stitched shirts, trousers, coats, half-pants, pyjamas, and ladies' apparel. Two shops at Satara and the other at Karad specialised in stitching woollen clothes. The net income of these shops varied from Rs. 75 to Rs. 300 per month. Their business was slack in rainy season. Paucity of capital was the main difficulty experienced by them.

TOP