MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

LAUNDRIES

This occupation is mainly urban in character and origin and has flourished in the main towns in the district. In the past the laundering services were rendered by dhobis most of whom belonged to the Hindu parit community. They served in the self-sufficient village economy as balutedars. Generally in villages dhobis collect clothes from house to house, wash them and deliver them to the customers. The occupation is followed by the artisan as hereditary one. As balutedars, parits or dhobis were generally paid in kind for washing the clothes. They used to get grains at the harvest time from the agriculturists. The old system is now a days fast disappearing. The impact of the city life, liking for decency and the natural desire to have an impressive personality have brought the occupation to its present form. In the Wardha district the occupation is mainly concentrated in big towns like Wardha, Pulgaon, Arvi, Ashti, Hinganghat, Sindi and Deoli where well equipped shops are established.

This occupation provides an important means of livelihood for a number of persons in the district. In 1951, the persons engaged in this occupation were classed as ' Laundries and Laundry Services' and numbered 623. Of these 485 were in rural area and 138 in the urban area. According to 1961 Census the category termed as the ' laundry services ' accounted for 891 persons [Of these 413 workers were grouped as launderers, dry cleaners and pressers.]of whom 227 were in rural area and 251 in urban area.

The occupation can be followed with the minimum tools, such as an iron, a table, a bucket and a cupboard. A big size laundry needs more than one iron, two or three tables, show cases, glass cupboards and in few cases power machines for washing purposes. The price of the tools and equipment cost the unit near about Rs. 770 apart from the cost of washing machine. The range of variation of capital investment in this occupation is however from Rs. 700 to Rs. 6,000.

The accessories used in this occupation include washing soda, soap, bleaching powder, starch, indigo and tinopal for washing purposes and charcoal and firewood and also electricity wherever available as fuel. All these items are locally purchased. The consumption of raw materials depends upon the volume of turnover of the establishment. In a small sized establishment it is Rs. 32 to Rs. 50 per month whereas the same for a fairly big size is from Rs. 95 to Rs. 200 per month. When the business is brisk the establishments employ outside labour. Some units are found to employ 8 labourers and they are paid wages varying between Rs. 90 and Rs. 115 per month. Generally excepting the large size units in most of the establishments the members of the family work as a unit. Most of the establishments are housed in rented premises the rent varying between Rs. 10 and Rs. 35 per month. The amount spent on fuel, ranges between Rs. 15 and Rs. 35 inclusive of the electricity charges.

Laundry services comprise washing and ironing of cotton garments and dry cleaning of terylene and woollen clothes. The charges for special and urgent services are usually double the rates of ordinary washing. Throughout the year the business is fairly brisk. The average net income of a big unit is Rs. 200 per month whereas the same for a small unit is between Rs. 90 and Rs. 130 per month.

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