The Gazetteers Department

DR. BALKRISHNA IN HIS SURVEY [Dr. Balkrishna, The Commercial Survey of the Kolhapur City in 1926,1928, p. I.] IN 1926 RECORDED 19 FLOUR AND RICE MILLS in the city engaging 47 employees. Of these, one was started during 1901 and 1910, four during 1910 and 1920, and 14 during 1921 and 1926. Fourteen of these mills worked on electric power and five on oil engines. In 1946, there were 27 flour mills [N. V. Sovani, Social Survey of the Kolhapur City. Vol. IT. Industry, Trade and Labour, 1951, pp. 87-8.] in the city, employing 99 persons. Of these, nine were in A ward, seven in C ward, four each in D and E wards and three in B ward. About half of the mills worked on oil engines and the remaining half electrical energy. There were 117 flour mills in 1956. Of these, 37 were located in C ward, 28 in B ward, 20 in A ward, 18 in E ward and 14 in D ward. The total employment in these establishments was 361 persons, out of whom 250 were paid employees and 111 including seven children were members of employers' families. The sample comprised of six mills of different sizes. Of these, one was started in 1928, the other in 1934 and four during 1947 and 1951.

The main work done in the mills was grinding of grains, dehusking of rice and grinding of chillies. The owners of these establishments were occupied throughout the year in this occupation.

The mills were working on electric power and their main equipment consisted of electric motors, grinders, balances and other minor tools. The cost of equipment of one establishment was about Rs. 4,750 and of the other Rs. 4,000, of the third and fourth Rs. 3,700 and Rs. 3,200 respectively and of the last two Rs. 2,400 and 1600. The yearly repairing charges of equipment in the biggest establishment in the sample came to about Rs. 450, in the other two, between Rs. 300 and Rs. 350 and in the remaining three, between Rs. 150 and Rs. 250. The grinding stones had to be replaced frequently.

Three proprietors raised initial capital from their own resources to start their enterprises. The other three borrowed the necessary capital, the rate of interest on which was about 9 per cent. Of the three establishments, two had fully paid the debt by 1956 and the third had still to pay Rs. 500.

Four shops were situated in rented premises, the rent of each varied from Rs. 15 to Rs. 80 per month and the other two were situated in owned premises. The other items of expenses on maintenance of establishment were electric charges, municipal licence fee, advertisement and other sundry expenses. Each establishment had to pay Rs. 12 per year as municipal licence fee. The consumption of electric energy varied from shop to shop. The two biggest shops consumed electric energy worth Rs. 325 and 275 respectively per month, and the remaining between Rs. 70 and Rs. 150 per month. The total sundry expenses of each varied from Rs. 5 to Rs. 20.

All the six owners worked in the mills. Besides them, seven more workers were engaged in these establishments. All of them were skilled workers. Workers in two shops were paid Rs. 55 each per month; in the other two, between Rs. 40 and Rs. 54 per month. In the remaining two no paid-employees were engaged.

The rate usually charged for grinding grains varied from annas 12 per Bengali maund to annas 15 per maund and for dehusking rice between annas 4 and annas 9 per Bengali maund. The two largest concerns in the sample, grinded monthly about 930 maunds and 800 maunds of grains respectively, and dehusked about 575 and 675 maunds of rice. The remaining four establishments grinded monthly 330, 300, 260, and 200 maunds of grains respectively and dehusked 50, 45, 20 and 15 maunds of rice respectively. Two mills were also engaged in grinding chillies. The rate they charged for grinding was Rs. 7 per maund. Each was grinding eight and five maunds per month.

The business in two shops was more or less steady throughout the year and was brisk in winter and summer and dull in the remaining four months. It was more or less profitable in the two biggest concerns.

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