INDUSTRIES LARGE-SCALE AND SMALL-SCALE

The following pages describe the industrial life and activity of the district. The chapter is divided into three sections: (1) Large-Scale Industries, (2) Small-Scale Industries and (3) Labour Organization. It is, however, to be noted that the statistics given in the section on large-scale industries which include employment and such other aspects as capital investment, production etc. are included, are not in respect of the industry as a whole but pertain to such major units as are registered under the Factories Act, 1948. They therefore do not embrace small establishments. In the sections on small-scale industries and labour organization, general description of each village industry and of trade union movement in the district is given.

I-LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES.

COTTON TEXTILES.

Cotton Textiles.-Cotton has been an important fibre crop of Kolhapur since the beginning the present century. Round about 1910-15 about 30,000 acres of land were under cotton cultivation. With a view to exploit the available resources, the late Maharaja Shahu Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, started a cotton textile mill at Kolhapur. It was owned by the Kolhapur Government. Originally it had only a spinning section and weaving department was added to it in 1928. Till 1935, it was managed by Messrs. James Finlay and Co. who acted as the agents of the Kolhapur Government. With the merger of the Kolhapur in Bombay State in 1949, the unit was taken over by the Government of Bombay. It is the only large scale textile unit working in the district. It had 319 looms, 15,998' spindles in 1947-48. It produced about 2.8 million lbs. of yarn and manufactured about 6.4 yards of cloth of various kinds viz. dhoti, pugree-cloth, plain-khadi, heavy long-cloth, and dasoti-cloth in the same year.

The total capital investment in the factory was Rs. 41,38,635, of which Rs. 23,87,280 were invested in buildings' and machinery and Rs. 17,51,355 as working capital at the end of 1956. There were 320 looms and 15,988 spindles in the mill. The establishment consumed 7,312 bales of cotton of short staple 27/32 inches and below, and 12,11,607 lbs. of yarn of 19^s to 30^s during 1956, and produced 12,99,466 lbs. i.e. 54,24 029 yards of medium grey cloth and 24,67,240 lbs. of yarn of medium variety. Coal and electricity were the main items of fuel. The establishment consumed 2,775 tons of coal valued at Rs. 1,34,999 and electricity valued at Rs. 80,202 in 1956. The categories of workers employed were skilled, semi-skilled and un-skilled. The total employment of workers in the concern was 959 out of whom 821 were skilled and semi-skilled, 126 un-skilled and 12 supervisors. The source of labour supply was local as well as adjoining villages. The basic minimum wage of a worker was Rs. 26 per month. The average earnings including dearness allowance of a worker, came to about Rs. 110 per month The weaving section of the mill was running a single shift and spinning double shift. The market for the cloth manufactured in the mill was Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Satara districts and Bombay city. Fifty per cent, of the production was sold in Kolhapur and surrounding districts and fifty per cent, in Bombay.

Besides this large-scale textile unit, there were in 1953-54, 150 power loom factories in the district which were mostly located at Ichalkaranji. About 1,590 power-looms were working in them. The first power-loom factory was started in 1928. During the thirties and forties of this century this industry was greatly expanded as a result of the encouragement and concessions granted to it by the Jahagirdar of Ichalkaranji, a Jahagir of the then Kolhapur State. It was during this period that many hand-looms were converted into power-looms. The industry was further expanded during the Second World War, when many Marwari Commission Agents rendered financial assistance to aritisans working on handlooms to facilitate the conversion from hand-looms to power-looms. Availability of skilled labour was another factor which helped in the expansion of the industry.

Of the 150 power-loom factories existing in the district in 1953-54, 59 were registered under the Factories Act. Fifty-five, out of 59 factories registered under the Factories Act, were located at Ichalkaranji, two at Kolhapur and one each at Kurundwad and Valivada. The total number of looms in all 150 factories was 1831 and in factories registered under the Factories Act, 1372. The following table shows number of looms according to the size of the unit: -

TABLE No. 2.

The aggregate fixed and working capital invested in the whole cotton textile industry during 1948-52 was as follows: -

TABLE No. 3.

TABLE SHOWING AGGREGATE CAPITAL INVESTED IN COTTON TEXTILE MILL AND POWER-LOOM FACTORIES REGISTERED UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT.

The aggregate capital invested in 59 power-loom factories registered under the Factories Act was Rs. 82,93,100 including working capital of Rs. 47,49,000.

Raw materials.

Cotton, cotton-yarn of different counts and art silk constituted the main raw materials in the industry. Cotton yarn of 40^s and over, artificial silk-yarn, and dyes were brought from Bombay. Some times cotton-yarn of 40^s and over was brought from Madura. Stores materials were purchased locally. The following table shows the consumption and value of cotton fibre and yarn, art-silk-yarn during 1948-52: -

TABLE No. 4.

TABLE SHOWING THE CONSUMPTION AND VALUE OF COTTON FIBRE AND YARN,
ART-SILK-YARN DURING 1948-52.

Cotton, cotton yarn, art silk etc. valued at Rs. 68,88,000 was consumed by the cotton mill and 59 powerloom factories in 1953-54.

Fuel.

Most of the powerloom factories were situated at Ichalkaranji. Some of them used power generated by oil engines and some received it from Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Project. The value of fuel and electricity consumed by these factories during 1948-52 was as follows: -

Employment.

The total number of persons employed in these factories was 2,521 in 1948 and 2,572 in 1950. Out of the persons employed in 45 factories in 1948, 1,929 were male workers, 224 female workers, 194 children and 174 persons other than workers. In 1950, number of men employed in 48 factories was 2,140, women 207, children 26, and supervisors and clerks 199. In 1948 and 1950 these workers were paid Rs. 18,36,534 and Rs. 22,79,424 respectively as wages. The total number of workers employed in 59 power-loom factories in 1953-54 was 2,400 including 158 women. They were paid Rs. 21,42,000 as wages. Besides these workers, 180 persons were employed in supervisory, technical and clerical capacity. They were paid Rs. 3,62,900 as salaries.

Production.

In 1956-57, the main cotton textile products of the district were grey dhotis and pugree-cloth, plain khadi, heavy long-cloth, and dosuti-cloth manufactured by the textile mill and coloured saris and khans and grey dhotis produced on power-looms. More than ninety per cent, of the textile production in the district consisted of saris and khans and grey dhotis. On an average a power-loom produced 25 yards of cloth per day. Power-loom factories were then producing grey dhotis as they were forbidden to produce saris of lower counts by Government. The following table shows the products and by-products and value of them during 1948-52: -

TABLE No. 5.

TABLE SHOWING THE PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS AND VALUE OF THEM DURING 1948-52.

Marketing.

The market for these goods was generally concentrated in Maharashtra. Marketing of the products was done through commission agents.

Sugar Manufacturing.

Sugar Manufacturing.-Kolhapur district has extensive lift irrigation facilities and a vast area of land suitable for sugar cane cultivation. In 1951-52, 46,700 acres of land was under sugar-cane cultivation and the total sugar-cane yield was 1,40,800 tons.

Capital.

The first sugar factory was started at Kolhapur in 1932. Since then, till 1956 no other sugar factory was opened. This factory had an aggregate capital of Rs. 18,80,000 including Rs. 13,40,000 invested in machinery and plants and Rs. 5,40,000 in building and had a share capital of Rs. 10,25,000. The investment in the factory had increased to Rs. 1.44,33,000 including working capital to Rs. 61,19,000 in 1953-54.

Tools.

On the farm owned by the factory most of the farm operations such as lifting water, ploughing and ridging were done with power machinery. In 1947-48 the farm had 70 oil engines of 15 to 90 H. P. each for lifting water, 17 tractors, 21 ploughs, 13 trucks and five motor cars. The length of pogar line to carry water for irrigation was 60 miles. In the factory there were three boilers of 500 B. H. P. each, three vaccum pans each having 15 tons striking capacity and 15 waterdriven centrifugal pumps The crushing mill consisted of 18 rollers (24" x 48") each and had a capacity to crush 500 tons of cane daily. In 1957, there were three boilers; four vaccum pans, two having the striking capacity of 30 tons each and two 22 tons each; seven electric centrifugal pumps, 18 rollers (24" x 48"), 50 oil engines, 69 power pumps, 16 tractors, 16 ploughs, 15 trucks and 11 cars.

Employment.

In 1947-48, 412 persons were employed permanently by the factory. Besides these permanent workers, there were 1,700 temporary workers. 500 cutters and 500 bullock-carts drivers. About 700 persons were employed extra in the crushing season from November to May. The actual number of working days varied from 120 to 140 in the year. In 1953-54, 525 workers were employed in the factory. Their total wagebill was about Rs. 3,74,000. A factory worker got Rs. 2-2-3 including dearness allowance and an agricultural worker got Rs. 2-0-3 including dearness allowance per day. Besides these workers 48' persons were employed in a supervisory capacity. They received Rs. 2,52,000 as salaries. In 1957, the factory had 365 permanent employees and 403 seasonal employees. Seasonal workers were usually employed during April and November. Skilled labour was paid. Rs. 75 to 95. plus Dearness Allowance per month and unskilled labour 14 annas 9 pies per day.

Raw Material.

The factory had its own farm for the cultivation of sugar-cane. During 1942-48, the factory used to grow sugar-cane on 1,000 to 1,450 acres every year, and produce 25 to 50 thousand tons of cane on it. It also used to purchase each year 10 to 30 thousand tons of cane from private growers. In 1955-56, it grew 32,895 tons of sugar-cane on its own farm and purchased 86,559 tons of sugar-cane from the market. In 1956-57, it purchased 86,481 tons of sugar-cane and grew 26,659 tons on its own farm. The following table indicates the quantity and value of raw materials consumed by the factory during 1948-49 and 1952-53: -

Production.

It consumed 1,19,454 tons of sugarcane in 1955-56 and, 1,13,140 tons in 1956-57.

The total production of the factory during 1947-48 and 1957-58 was as follows: -

The quality of sugar produced in 1956 was 29-B, 29-C, 29-D and 29-E.

Marketing.

The factory had its own sales depots in all talukas of Kolhapur district and also in several places in Ratnagiri and Belgaum districts and in Bombay city.

Distilleries and Breweries.

Distilleries and Breweries.-The sugar factory at Kolhapur had an ancillary plant for distillation of spirit from molasses. The aggregate capital invested in the plant in 1948-49 was Rs. 4,32,629 and Rs. 4,52,042 in 1950. The investment remained constant thereafter till 1953-54.

Employment.

The total employment in the plant was 18 persons in 1948 and it remained constant thereafter till 1951. In 1952, the number of persons employed was 32. These workers were paid Rs. 10,063 in 1948, Rs. 18,821 in 1951 and Rs. 24,098 in 1952 as wages. The employment in 1953-54 was the same as in 1951, but the wages paid to them were Rs. 1,800. Besides these workers two persons were employed as supervisors and were paid Rs. 7,000 as salaries.

Raw materials and production.

The plant consumed 1,754 tons of molasses and produced 1,14,596.40 gallons of denatured spirit in 1951. In 1952, the consumption of molasses by the plant was 2,916 tons and it produced 1,50,726.20 gallons of denatured spirit. The same figures for the year 1953 were 1,423 tons and 1,29,953.60 gallons.

GUL MAKING.

Gul making is the largest of all rural industries in Kolhapur. It was established in the last century. In the beginning it was organised as a cottage industry but later on motive power for lifting water and crushing sugarcane was introduced in it. Availability of sugarcane and good demand for gul were the main factors which assisted the growth of the industry. Unlike sugarcane grown on canal water in North India and in the other parts of Deccan, sugarcane in Kolhapur is grown on lift water as there are no facilities for canal irrigation.

Capital.

There were 23 gul factories registered under the Factories Act in 1953-54. The aggregate capital invested in three gul factories in 1951 was Rs. 2,25,889 including Rs. 76,776 as working-capital. The aggregate capital investment of the industry was Rs. 4,30,000 including Rs. 70,000 as working capital in 1953-54.

Tools'

In 1945-46, about 740 power-pumps, 10,000 single motes for lifting water, 475 power-crushers for crushing sugar-cane and 1,332 iron mills worked by bullocks were used in the industry. Diesel engines, cane-crushers, pans, moulds, strainers, etc. came to be used in this process very recently.

Employment.

It is a seasonal industry which gave employment to 23,500 men for 8 to 9 months in 1945-46. The factories registered under the Factories Act employed 420 persons in 1953-54 and they were paid annually Rs. 52,000 as wages. In addition, 30 persons were employed as clerks who were paid Rs. 7,100 as salaries.

Production.

Round about 1945-46, sugar-cane grown on about 30,000 acres was used for gul making and on about 2,000 acres was used for manufacturing sugar. The total production of gul amounted to 74,000 tons worth Rs. 3.1 crores at Rs. 48 per atki of 256 lbs. The production of factories registered under the Factories Act was 1,987 tons worth Rs. 7,70,000 in 1953-54. They crushed about 14,000 tons of sugar-cane valued at Rs. 4,92,000.

Process of Gul making.

Sugar-cane is crushed by crushers run on the power generated by oil-engines. The juice collected is boiled in a large open pan and on cooling it is poured into a pit where it is solidified. These cakes are then filled in bucket-type moulds to get the necessary shape and sent to market for sale.

Market.

Kolhapur gul is considered to be of a very high quality and is known for its keeping quality. The district has been exporting gul for the last 100 years. Shahapur, Jaisingpur Gadhinglaj and Ichalkaranji are the important gul markets. Of the "total "production' of 74,000 tons of gul about 58,000 tons worth Rs. 2.3 crores were exported to Gujarat, Saurashtra and Konkan regions in 1945-46.

Engineering.

Engineering.-Surrounding by Ratnagiri district on the west, South Satara on the north-east, Mysore State on the south-east, Kolhapur district has a peculiar position which has helped and encouraged the development of a net work of roads within its boundaries. Road transport vehicles usually ply between Kolhapur, Poona, Belgaum, Ratnagiri and Bangalore. The development of road transport has indirectly helped to establish many automobile workshops in the district. The first such workshop was started in 1912 at Kolhapur. There were seven such workshops registered under the Facories Act in 1953-54. The increase in use of oil engines, power-pumps and power-crushers in sugar and gul industry helped to start many engineering' workshops in which oil engines, gas plants, centrifugal pumps, storage batteries, hullers, pulleys and crushers were manufactured. There were 12 machines and tools manufacturing units in 1953-54.

Capital.

The aggregate capital invested in these factories and electrical engineering factories during 1948-52 was as follows. [Separate figures for general engineering factories are not available]: -

TABLE NO. 6.

TABLE SHOWING CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN ENGINEERING FACTORIES DURING 1948-52.

[Figures of capital in rupees).

The total aggregate capital invested in all the seven automobile repairing workshops excluding two State Transport workshops and in 12 machines and tools manufacturing factories was Rs. 4,23,800 including Rs. 2,76,800 as working capital. The total capital invested in automobile repairing workshops, excluding two State Transport workshops was Rs. 4,24,500 including Rs. 2,76,800 as working capital.

Employment.

The total number of persons employed in all the nineteen factories was 650 in 1953-54, out of whom 280 persons were employed in automobile repairing workshops. The total wage bill of 650 persons employed was Rs. 5,48,000. Besides these workers, 83 persons were employed as supervisors, technicians and clerks in them. They were paid Rs. 1,13,000 as salaries.

Raw material.

Principal raw materials consumed by these factories were pig iron, coke, non-ferrous alloys and steel of all categories like forgings, plates and rods etc. The quantity and value of raw materials consumed by general engineering and electrical engineering industries as no separate figures are available for general engineering factories, during 1948-52 were as follows: -

TABLE No. 7.

TABLE SHOWING QUANTITY AND VALUE OF RAW MATERIALS CONSUMED BY GENERAL ENGINEERING AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FACTORIES, DURING 1948-52.

(Figures of value in rupees and of quantity in tons).

Production.

Oil engines, fire-fighting equipment, parts of agricultural implements, flour-mills, hullers, batteries, etc., were mainly produced in tool-manufacturing factories. In addition engine repairing etc., was also carried out in workshops. Oil-engines, cane-crushers, centrifugal pumps and automobiles were repaired in them. The manufacturing units produced engines, implements etc. worth Rs. 11,45,000 in 1953-54.

Machinery and tools used by these workshops were air-compressors, hydraulic jacks and presses, boring and drilling machines. They also used electric motors, casting machines, electric grinders and blowers, shaping, plaining and milling machines.

Vegetable Oils.

Vegetable Oils.- Kolhapur district has a good position as regards oil seeds, which occupy about 13.5 per cent, of the gross cropped area. Of all the oil seeds produced in the district groundnut claims the first place. Groundnut oil and cakes form the chief product of oil industry. The area under groundnut in 1951-52 was about 1,16,700 acres and groundnut production was 36,000 tons. Large cultivation of sugarcane and extensive use of oil cakes for its growth are the main factors responsible for its expansion. In 1953-54, there were ten oil mills registered under the Factories Act, out of which four were located at Kolhapur, three at Ichalkaranji and one each at Jaisingpur, Vadgaon and Gadhinglaj. The first oil mill in the district was started in 1912; three between 1930 and 1939 and the remaining six between 1940 and 1949.

Capital.

The aggregate capital invested in these factories during 1948 and 1952 was as follows: -

TABLE No. 8.

TABLE SHOWING CAPITAL INVESTMENT DURING 1948-52.

(Figures of capital in rupees).

In 1948 there were five oil mills which had an aggregate capital of Rs. 19,03,142. In 1951 seven mills had an aggregate capital of Rs. 32,25,491. There were ten mills with the capital investment of Rs. 32,81,800 including fixed capital of Rs. 20,46,800 in 1953-54.

Employment.

In 1943, 315 persons including 164 males, 94 females, two children and 55 persons other than workers were employed in five factories. They were paid Rs. 1,35,084 as wages and salaries. In 1951, the number of persons employed in seven factories registered under the Factories Act was 344 including 187 males and 95 females, one child and 61 persons other than workers. They were paid Rs. 1,67,749. In 1953-54, the total employment in the ten oil mills was 240 persons who were paid Rs. 1,01,800 as wages. Besides these workers, there were 60 persons employed in them. They were paid Rs. 67,600 as salaries.

Raw material.

Groundnut seeds were mainly crushed in these factories. Besides groundnut, safflower and niger were also crushed. In 1948, 4,580 tons of groundnut valued at Rs. 24,14,190 and 19 tons of other basic materials valued at Rs. 3,770 were crushed by five factories registered under the Factories Act. In 1951, 5,392 tons of groundnut valued at Rs. 42,64,446 were crushed in seven factories.

The following table shows the consumption of raw materials and other basic materials during 1948 and 1952: -

TABLE No. 9.

TABLE SHOWING CONSUMPTION OF RAW MATERIALS DURING 1948-52.

(Figures of quantity in tons, and of value in rupees).

Ten factories consumed groundnut and other seeds worth Rs. 21,51,570 in 1953-54. The value of fuel consumed by the five factories in 1948 was Rs. 41,845. Fuel worth Rs. 37,191 and Rs. 25,407 was consumed by seven factories in 1949 and 1951 respectively.

These factories produced groundnut oil and oil cakes and other oils and oil cakes. The following table indicates quantity and value of products and by-products of these factories during 1948-52: -

TABLE No. 10.

TABLE SHOWING QUANTITY AND VALUE OF PRODUCTS DURING 1948-52.

(Figures of quantity in tons and of value in rupees).

The value of oil and oil cakes produced in ten factories was Rs. 27,93,370 (1953-54).

Silver Ornaments Manufacturing.

Kolhapur and Poona districts provided markets for these products. About thirty to forty per cent, of the products were sold locally.

Silver Ornaments.

Silver Ornaments Manufacturing.-The silver ornament industry in the district particularly at Hupari is well-known in India. To most of the people at Hupari it is the main source of livelihood. The first silver ornaments workshop was started at Hupari in 1904. In the beginning, the industry was organised on cottage-basis and carried on entirely at the residence of the artisans. In course of time, machines were introduced in the process of beating and moulding ornaments. The industry largely expanded during 1940 and 1945, after the introduction of the rolling machine (Pasta) for the use of drawing wires and sheets of silver rods. It was during this period that the industry propered. About 1,200 workers were then engaged n it. The industry received a set-back after the World War II. Application of the Factories Act also contributed to produce that result. The number of workers employed in the industry was about 600 in 1953-54. Most of the silver ornament workshops worked on wage-cum-profit basis. Shroffs of Kolhapur usually give orders to the artisans for making ornaments alongwith the required quantity of silver and pay necessary wages for making ornaments and a share in the profits. There were ten such workshops registered under the Factories Act. Nine of them were situated at Hupari and one at Hatkanangale. Four out of ten factories used electrical and mechanical power while the others adopted hand processes.

Capital.

The aggregate capital invested in the ten workshops was Rs. 3,67,200 including working capital of Rs. 3,14,000. The number of persons employed in them was 128, of whom three persons were other than workers. The workers received Rs. 66,740 as wages. They got wages as per work done.

Raw material.

The basic raw material required was silver which was obtained from shroffs of Kolhapur. Pure silver was obtained in weight and ornaments were delivered to shroffs equal in weight of the silver obtained. The value of raw materials used was Rs. 3,96,000 in 1953-54. They used rolling machines, die punches, hand presses and wire drawing machines. Rolling machines used mechanical power generated by oil engines.

Production.

Only silver articles were manufactured. The basic product was a chain made of thin wires of silver. Other articles were made after attaching pieces and trinkets to the main chain of silver. The value of ornaments and silver-were produced was Rs. 4,87,500 and the value of work done on materials supplied by others was Rs. 36,750 in 1953-54.

Wires were first drawn on the rolling machines from silver in ingots. They were then cut into small pieces to form rings which were linked together with each other and soldered by an inferior type of alloy. This was the process adopted for the manufacture of silver chains.

Electricity Generation.

Electricity Generation.-The first power house at Kolhapur was started in 1921 with gas plants and two sets of 120 K. W. -In 1928, diesel engine was installed in it, another two sets of 200 K. W. and 300 K. W. were installed in 1933 and 1939 respectively and a set of 260 K. W. was added in 1949. It was a generating station till 1953, but was transformed into a receiving station afterwards. It received bulk of its electric supply from Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Works. The work of conversion of current from D. C. to A. C. between Kolhapur and Radhanagari was completed by June 1947. The maximum load of the Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Works was 30,000 K. V. A. and the biggest consumer of it was the Kolhapur Electric Supply Co., which consumed about 700 K. W. A. load. This concern supplied half of the electricity consumed by the city and had about 4,600 consumers per month. The total consumption of electricity was 1,70,000 units per month. The rate for domestic consumption per unit was six annas up to the consumption of first 25 units and five and a half anna from 25 units to 34 units.

The second power house was opened at Ichalkaranji in 1935. Two more stations were subsequently opened, one at Kolhapur and the other at Jaisingpur. The one at Kolhapur was later on amalgamated with the old. The Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Works started functioning in 1953. Since then, no other power house was opened in the district till 1956. The Radhanagari Project supplied electricity to Ichalkaranji, Jaisingpur and Kolhapur for domestic consumption as well as for industrial purposes and to small irrigation works like electric pumps planted on the Panchaganga river bank from Kolhapur to Shirol under the Emergency Lift Irrigation Scheme.

The rate for consumption for industrial purposes was as follows: -

(1) 3 annas per unit of electricity consumed by saw mills and water pumps for domestic use.

(2) 2 annas per unit of electricity consumed by flour mills and water pumps used for irrigation.

(3) 4 annas per unit of electricity consumed by cinema houses and street lights of municipality.

The power houses at Ichalkaranji and Jaisingpur also received electric supply from Radhanagari Hydro-Electric Works. They supplied electricity to the respective towns. The power house at Ichalkaranji charged following rates for general lighting: -

5½ annas per unit for the consumption of first 12 units.

5¼ annas per unit for the consumption from 13 to 24 units, and 5 annas per unit after the consumption of 24 units.

The aggregate capital invested in the four factories, was Rs. 58,03,000 including Rs. 48,03,000 as fixed capital in 1953-54. They employed about 129 workers who were paid Rs. 1,30,000 as wages. Besides these workers, 48 clerks, supervisors and technicians were employed who were paid Rs, 79,300 as salaries in 1953-54. The power house at Kolhapur employed about

100 workers in 1957. The wages paid to a skilled worker were Rs. 100 including D. A. and to a unskilled Rs. 60 including D. A. Overtime was also paid. The power house at Ichalkaranji employed about 20 workers, out of whom six were skilled workers, six unskilled and the remaining supervisors and clerks, in 1957.

Bidi-making and Tobacco-curing.

Bidi-making and Tobacco-curing.-As the land and climate in Shirol Hatkanangale, Gadhinglaj and Karvir talukas are most suitable to growing tobacco, tobacco has been one of the most important cash crops in these parts of Kolhapur district. In 1881-82, the area under tobacco was of Kolhapur district. In 1881-82, the area under tobacco was 36,100 acres, the same increased to 47,628 acres in 1955-56. Till 1916, bidi making was carried on, on cottage basis. There was no local tobacco market and all the raw tobacco produced was sent out to Sangli. A tobacco market was organised at Jaisingpur in 1916. The establishment of this market, the assistance by way of tax concessions granted by the former Kolhapur State authorities to these artisans and the availability of rail road facilities, helped to stimulate the growth of organised tobacco-curing and bidi-making industries in the district. There were 10 such factories registered under the Factories Act in 1953-54. In Kolhapur city there were 40 bidi-making concerns in 1947; but in a majority of them, bidi-making was a side business. There were only seven establishments exclusively engaged in bidi-making and 253 persons were engaged in them.

The aggregate capital invested in nine [for which information was available] out of the ten factories registered under the Factories Act was Rs. 2,18,500 out of which Rs. 30,000 was in the form of fixed capital, in 1953-54. Both male and female labour was employed in these factories. About 290 workers including women were employed in the nine factories. They were paid Rs. 2,30,000 as wages. Besides these workers there were 12 persons who were employed in clerical capacity. They were paid Rs. 8,200 as salaries. The wages of a worker varied from Rs. 1-2-0 to Rs. 1-8-0 per 1,000 bidis.

Tobacco-curing process consisted of drying the tobacco leaves, crushing them and grading them according to sizes. No machinery was required in this process. Bidis were manufactured by hands only. Leaves were cut with the help of scissors. One pair of scissors and a small knife worth Rs. 3 were the only implements used in bidi-making.

Tobacco and tumari leaves were the main raw-materials required in bidi-making. Local tobacco was mostly consumed in both the processes. Tumari leaves were brought from Madhya Pradesh. Tobacco and tumari leaves worth Rs 4,39,000 were consumed by the nine bidi factories and 11,678 maunds of tobacco valued at Rs. 6,43,000 were cured in them in 1953-54.

They manufactured 1,13,700 bundles, each of 1,000 bidis. A bundle of 50 bidis was sold at annas five or six according to the quantity of tobacco and while cured tobacco at Rs. 1-12-0 per lb. in 1955.

Bidis were sold in the local market and were also sent to other parts of the State. They were sold by the manufacturers through their commission agents.

Printing Presses.

Printing Presses.-The printing industry in Kolhapur is at least as old as 1870, when' Dnyana Sagar' a marathi weekly was started. Some small presses were started during 1900-1939. Dr. Balkrishna in his survey in 1926 says that there were 14 printing presses in Kolhapur town which employed 108 persons. Of these 14 concerns, two were started during 1886-1900, two during 1901-10, five during 1910-20 and four in 1921-26. One was described as ' hereditary'. The development of this industry was largely assisted by the demand of printed materials, by educational institutions, co-operative societies, banks, and cinemas. In 1947, there were 27 printing presses in Kolhapur city which engaged 202 persons. In the district as a whole, there were nine presses registered under the Factories Act including one Government printing press. All the presses printed books, booklets, hand-bills, memo-forms and invitation cards. Of the nine presses registered under the Factories Act, three presses published daily newspapers.

The aggregate capital investment in all the nine factories registered under the Factories Act was Rs. 9,06,000 including Rs. 3,50 000 as fixed capital in 1953-54. The mechanical equipment in all these concerns consisted of printing machine, cutting and stitching machines, treadles, perforating and binding machines.

Raw materials used by the presses were different types, ink, kerosene and stationery. These nine factories consumed raw materials worth Rs. 1,90,670 in 1953-54.

The number of persons employed in these nine factories was 210 including 60 persons who were employed as technicians, supervisors and clerks. These workers were paid Rs. 1,29,000 as wages while supervisory staff was paid Rs. 73,000.

Match Industry.

Match Industry.-A match factory was started in Kolhapur city in 1945. In its initial stages it was helped by the old Kolhapur State in securing suitable wood from local forests.

Capital Investment.

The aggregate capital invested in the factory was Rs. 1,54,050 including Rs. 28,977 as working capital in 1949, Rs. 1,09 375 including Rs. 7,780 as working capital in 1952 and Rs. 1,26,000 including Rs. 8,000 as working capital in 1953-54.

Employment.

The number of persons employed in the factory in 1952 was 86 including 17 persons who were employed as clerks, supervisors and technicians. They were paid Rs. 34,043 as wages and salaries. Both male and female workers were generally paid on a contract basis for hand-rolling labels, filling boxes and labelling them at the rate of annas six per gross of match boxes. Wages of skilled employees varied from Rs. 25 to Rs. 150 each per month. The factory employed 35 workers who were paid about Rs. 20,000 as wages during 1953-54. In addition, 17 persons were employed as clerks and supervisors. They were paid Rs. 25,500 as salaries in 1953-54.

Implements and fuel consumption.

The implements and machinery consisted of a set of two peeling machines and a splinter chaffing machine. The factory consumed fuel and electricity worth Rs. 527 in 1949 and Rs. 2,222 in 1952.

Raw materials.

Savar wood (Bombax malabaricum) is the main raw. material required for the manufacture of splinters and match boxes. This particular quality of wood is available in abundance in Radhanagari taluka and Panhala peta. About 210 tons or 10,500 cubic feet of savar wood worth Rs. 10,500 was consumed by the factory in 1947-48, 1,500 cubic ft. worth Rs. 2,400 in 1949 and 7,300 cubic ft. worth Rs. 16,881 in 1952. Besides savar wood, match paper and chemicals are also used in the manufacture of match boxes. The factory consumed about one ton of match paper valued at Rs. 600 and 24 cwt. of chemicals valued at Rs. 2,294 in 1949, three tons of match paper worth Rs. 7,922 and 84 cwt. of chemicals worth Rs. 88,954 in 1952.

Production.

The factory produced 6,000 gross of match boxes valued at Rs. 19,440 in 1949, 27,645 gross valued at Rs. 1,04,921 in 1952, and 27,600 gross valued at Rs. 10,500 in 1953-54.

Cement Processing.

Cement Processing.-There were two factories in the district engaged in cement processing, one manufacturing hume pipes and R. C. C. poles and the other cement tiles, in 1953-54 Both were started in 1945. During World War II there was a great demand for hume pipes, R. C. C. oples, and cement tiles, the supply of which was not readily available. These two factories were, therefore, organised to supply cement materials. There was great scope for expansion of these factories in view of irrigation and other construction schemes undertaken by Government. Short and irregular supply of cement was one of the greatest handicaps from which these processing factories suffered.

Capital.

In 1953-54 aggregate capital invested in these factories was Rs. 5 lakhs including Rs. 3 lakhs as working capital.

Employment.

About 70 workers-65 males and 5 females-were employed in them and they were paid Rs. 33,000 as wages. Eight persons were employed as clerks and supervisors who received Rs. 77,000 as salaries.

Raw materials Implement and power.

Cement, steel and sand were the main raw materials required in the industry and Both the lactones consumed raw materials valued at Rs. 1,40,000 in 1953-54. Machinery and equipment used by the factories were moulding and reinforcing machines, mixers, testing machines, sand washing and jaw crushing machines. They consumed 900 k.w.h. power annually.

They produced hume pipes, R. C. C. poles and cement flouring tiles worth Rs. 3,11,700 in 1953-54. The products were sold in the local market and in surrounding areas. Usually they got orders from Public Works Department, District Local Boards, Municipalities and individual customers.

Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.

The preparation of Ayurvedic medicines was carried on by Dr. Babasaheb Gune, Raj-Vaidya of the former Kolhapur State, long before the enforcement of the Factories Act in the State. He started a factory for the manufacture of patent Ayurvedic medicines on a commercial scale in 1944.

The aggregate capital invested in the factory was about Rs. 5 lakhs out of which Rs. 2,50,000 was the fixed capital in 1953-54. In the same year the factory employed 17 workers who received about Rs. 14,400 as wages; besides these workers, five persons were employed as supervisors who received Rs. 5,000 as salaries.

No power was used in the process of manufacture of medicines. Ayurvedic medicinal herbs which were used for the manufacture of medicines were brought from Konkan, the Punjab and the Himalayan region. Medicinal herbs valued at Rs. 40,000 were brought from these regions in 1953-54. Important medicines produced were syrups for cough and fevers and Asawas. Nearly 300 varieties of Ayurvedic medicines valued at Rs. 72,000 were produced in the factory in 1953-54.

India is the only country where hirda or myrabolan, which is important for tanin contents, is produced on a large scale. Kolhapur forests are very rich in myrabolan nuts. Total annual collection of hirda varied from 4 to 6 thousand tons in 1942-43. With abundant supply of hirda and encouragement given by the former local Jahagirdars a factory for extracting tanin from hirda was started at Amba in 1944.

The aggregate capital invested in the factory was Rs. 10,52,000. Out of this capital Rs. 8,72,000 were invested in land, buildings, and machinery-and Rs. 1,80,000 were used as working, capital in 1953-54; it employed 90 workers whose annual wage bill was Rs. 29,000. In addition, 16 workers were employed as supervisors, Clerks and technicians who received Rs. 12,000 as salaries in 1953-54. The factory manufactured solid extract of hirda One ton of solid extract required about 2.5 to 3 tons of hirda depending on its tanin content. About 2,100 tons of hirda nuts valued at Rs. 2,20,600 were consumed by the factory and about 680 tons of tanin extract valued at Rs. 3,34,300 were produced in 1953-54. "The product was mostly exported to U. S. A. and U. K.

Soap Industry.

In 1954, there were nine units manufacturing soap in the district. All of them were staked during the thirties and forties of the present century. Availability of groundnut oil and assistance given by the former State authorities in procuring caustic soda helped in the development of the industry. All these units were engaged in the manufacture of laundry soap. Out of the nine units, only one was registered under the Factories Act, 1948 and was using power in the manufacturing process. All others were small units in which manufacturing was done by hand. The fixed and working capital employed in the factory registered under the Factories Act, 1948, was Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 14,000 respectively. Fourteen workers and four persons other than workers were employed in the factory and they were paid Rs. 5,300 and Rs. 7,300 Respectively, as wages and salaries. Oils and chemicals valued at Rs. 46,000 were consumed and soap valued at Rs. 59,000 was produced in 1954.

Cine Industry.

Kolhapur can be regarded as one of the main centres of the film industry in Maharashtra State.

In Kolhapur district there are two studios situated in the city itself giving employment to about 130 persons on a permanent basis. Both the studios are well equipped with the latest cine equipments available in India. Movie cameras, trollies, are some of the items of studio machinery. " Other permanent structures are the georgous plain sets, huge fort walls, wide cloth screens depicting scenes from epics and history, beautiful gardens etc. The mechanical equipment is mostly imported either from U. S. A. or U. K. and it costs a producer an investment worth a couple of lakhs of rupees to start upon picture production. The raw film also is one of the items of import. Both the studios have their own laboratories where the film is processed after the shooting is completed. The producers do not take the responsibility of exhibiting the films produced by them but they sell the rights for the State, for the region or for the World to the distributors who take it upon themselves to publicise the film and attract to it a wider market. One of the studios has a publicity department of its own and the expenditure on publicising is an important item of the total costs. The employment inflates when actual shooting takes place. Unlike other industries the studios do not work round the clock but are busy when the production work is in full swing. It is not that the studio owners, always produce their own pictures but often they give the studio on hire to other picture-producing concerns when a rental of about Rs. 350 to Rs. 500 per day is charged. The salaries paid to the staff, differ according to the skill that is required on the part of the employee towards the finishing of the picture under production. A manual worker gets about Rs. 2-3-0 a day, the camera by about Rs. 1-8-0 a day, the decorator about Rs. 250 to Rs. 350 per month. Most of the higher staff such as directors, cameramen, actors and actresses are on a contractual assignment and their payment depends upon their market value or popularity. Leaving aside the case of cine workers in this category so far as the rank and file are concerned, their lot cannot be regarded as satisfactory from the point of view of employment and remuneration.

Most of the pictures produced by the studio-owners are Marathi which makes the market for the production limited. The non-availability of Hindi actors and actresses due to the incapacity of the home producers to pay their handsome salaries is one of the main causes for a very few Hindi pictures being produced by the Kolhapur studios. The pictures produced are social, historical and mythological as well. The cost of producing a picture ranges between Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,50,000. Most of the shooting is indoor for which sets are constructed in the studio itself. In historical and mythological pictures shooting is done on location. Generally speaking the cine industry in the district cannot be regarded as being in a state of prosperity. The equipment requires to be modernised and replaced, finance is not easy to obtain, taxation is heavy, market is limited, raw material is not easily available, new blood in the form of actors and actresses, story writers and music directors is not forthcoming. Under such circumstances the very continuance of the industry from its inauguration in 1930's till today could be regarded as a phenomenal achievement.

Industrial Estate.

The former Kolhapur State Government had set aside some area on the eastern outskirts of Kolhapur city for Constructing sheds for industrial purposes. The area was kown as " Shivaji Udyam Nagar " or " Small Scale Industrial Zone". This area measuring about 42 acres has been divided into 207 plots, of which, 192 plots have already been sold. Industrial sheds have been erected on 108 plots and about 80 plots are still vacant.

This industrial estate falls 'within the Pilot Community Project area, and the State Government has decided to convert the industrial zone into a full-fledged industrial estate by assisting the plot holders in constructing factory buildings and by starting some production-cum-training centres in the estate. The Central Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also started a common facility centres for the use of Small Scale units in the premises of the estate.

Government of India approved the scheme in 1957 and sanctioned a loan for it. A good deal of development, including roads, drainage and water pipe line has already been completed. The plot-holders in the estate have formed a co-operative society known as "Kolhapur Udyam Co-operative Society Ltd." for the organisation and management of the estate.

About 207 factories are to be located in the estate. About 50 industrial establishments engaged mostly in engineering industry i.e., foundries, workshops, automobile repair shops, smithy, etc., exist in the industrial zone.

The industrial estate provides a factory space of different sizes and common facilities like supply of electricity for lighting and power, water, drainage and easy access to road or rail. The small entrepreneurs can thus utilize their limited financial resources for the purchase of machinery and for expanding their production. Factories located at the Estate are calculated to get the advantages of the common facility centre organised by the Small Industries Service Institute, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India which is equipped with modern machinery and allowed to be used on payment of nominal charges.

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