ECONOMIC TRENDS

GROUP III

The families with an annual income of below Rs. 1,800 per. annum on an average were included in this group. The people belonging to this group in rural areas stayed in huts constructed on the outskirts of villages and in one room tenements in urban areas. They had no furniture except a khat.

The family in this group was composed of four adults and lour minors making a total of six units. Almost every family had two earners. The average occupational income of a family was placed at Rs. 1,200 per annum which was supplemented by a small income from agriculture in respect of only four families out of 22, i.e.in respect of only 16 per cent of the families surveyed. No family reported any savings. Almost all, the families were in debt.

The family on an average spent Rs. 80 on food comprising cereals and pulses. Rs. 50 and Rs. 10 each on oils, vegetables, mutton and milk. They did not consume milk as they could not afford it and their purchase of milk was restricted to the bare requirements of tea or butter-milk. Of the remaining monthly expenditure, Rs. 4 were spent on lighting, Re. 1 towards education of their children. Rs. 2 towards entertainment and Rs. 5 towards rent and repairs to their huts.

The household equipment of families in this group mostly consisted of earthen pots and aluminium utensils. Only in a few cases, either brass or copper utensils were used for storing water. They had no furniture. Their bedding was very scanty and mostly comprised godhadi and mats. The percentage of literacy in this group was low because their main emphasis was to learn quickly to earn quickly rather than to achieve any educational distinction.

The average monthly expenditure on food items of the families in this group was 70 per cent of its total expenditure and 80 per cent of its income.

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