MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

LODGING AND BOARDING

Lodging and boarding as an occupation is found to be flourishing mostly at Wardha and to a much smaller extent at other tahsil places in the district. It is rarely found in rural areas. Even at tahsil headquarters in the north-western and eastern parts of the district, establishment of this type are few and far between. For instance at Hinganghat and Arvi only one such establishment is found. It may be noted that with the change in the socio-economic pattern of the modern developing society the lodging and boarding occupation has come up in recent times. The prominent factors responsible for the growth of this occupation are the break-up of the joint family system and the gradually increasing tempo in the development of trade and industry which has compelled the people to move from place to place to seek employment. Generally, lodging and boarding houses are combined into one, and only in a few cases the two are separated. Usually the establishments are near the railway station, S. T. stand, market and also in the central localities of the town.

The accessories required by a boarding house include foodgrains, condiments and spices, groundnut oil, ghee, vegetables, pulses, etc., in a vegetarian and in addition to these fish, mutton and eggs in a non-vegetarian one. The extent of consumption of raw materials by every establishment mainly depends upon the turnover and clientele of the establishment. In the case of lodging houses, a few provide to the customers hot water for bath and tea and such other beverages in morning and evening. Their accessories consist of milk, sugar, tea-leaves etc.

The equipment of a boarding house consists of chairs, small dining tables, benches, dishes, bowls, pots of various sizes for cooking, glasses and various small utensils as also stoves. An electric heater was found in one establishment. A boarding house of a big size also uses refrigerator to keep cold drinks and vegetables fresh. The equipment of a lodging house consists of cots, mattresses, pillows, bed sheets etc. The big establishments also provide telephone facilities and radio sets, besides the usual amenities of such kind. The amount locked up in tools and equipment varies according to the size of establishment. The sample survey revealed that a big unit invests Rs. 30,000 in furniture and fixtures while the total capital invested amounts to Rs. 2 lakhs. An establishment of medium size is found to have invested about Rs. 1,500 in furniture and Rs. 20,000 as a total capital investment.

In the lodging and boarding houses the food is prepared daily in the morning and in the evening also. The charges for meals differ for rice plate and full meal. The rates for non-vegetarian meals are generally charged as per plate. Besides casual customers, most of the boarding houses provide meals to the permanent members on a monthly basis.

Besides the major items of expenditure, viz., raw materials and utensils the establishment is required to spend on wages of its servants, rent etc. The salary paid to the cooks and waiters shows considerable variations. A servant who serves food is paid Rs. 40 with meals whereas a cook is paid Rs. 100 with meals per month. A female servant who is generally employed for cleaning pots and utensils is paid from Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 per month. Another major item of expenditure is rent which varies between Rs. 175 and Rs. 200 per month. The average income of a fairly big establishment comes to Rs. 1,000 and more per month. The earnings however, vary according to the size of the establishment and its turnover. The variations range between Rs. 600 and Rs. 1,800 per month.

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