MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

BICYCLE SHOPS AND CYCLE REPAIRING

Bicycle is a very popular vehicle in India as it is a cheap and a convenient mode of transport. Most of the bicycle shops are found in towns. They are located at the main centres of the towns. Some of the shops either keep bicycles for hire or undertake only repairing work or both. According to the Census of 1961, 1,014 persons were engaged in this occupation in the district.

Repairing tools, rubber solution, nut-bolts, screws, etc. are required for bicycle repairing. The shops also sell a variety of spare parts.

The tools and equipment of a bicycle shop consist of a table, a few chairs, two or more cupboards. The sample survey disclosed that an average shop keeps about eight to eighteen bicycles for hire.

The total investment of a medium-sized unit, generally, ranges between Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 6,000, the owners raising the capital from their own sources.

Generally, these shops are managed by the owners whereas some of them employ two or three workers for the work of repairing. The workers are paid between Rs. 45 and Rs. 60 per month. Most of the shops are situated in rented premises, the rent varying between Rs. 35 and Rs. 40 per month. The monthly net income of an average shop is found to range between Rs. 300 and Rs. 400.

TOP