MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

UMBRELLA, TRUNK AND LOCK MAKING.

THERE WERE 25 SHOPS OF DEALERS IN UMBRELLAS, TRUNKS, etc. in the city at the time of our survey. Of these shops 13 were located in B ward, eight in D ward and four in C ward.

Of these, only three were surveyed in the sample. Two shops were started before 1935 and one in 1943. Sale of umbrellas, locks, trunks, stationery and cutlery was the principal occupation in these shops, which provided employment throughout the year.

These shops dealt in manufactured goods. They purchased stationery and cutlery from local market as well as from Bombay and other places. They had petty instruments required for repairing locks and umbrellas, and a few cupboards. Two establishments had raised Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000 each as initial capital by debt borrowed at 9 per cent. rate of interest. The debt was fully paid before 1956.

Two establishments were situated in rented premises. The rent of each was Rs. 25 and 65. The third shop was situated in the owned premises of the owner. The total electric bill of these three shops was Rs. 11 per month. Two shops had to pay Rs. 12 per year each as municipal licence fee.

The biggest shop in the sample purchased stationery and cutlery worth Rs. 850 per month and the other two, worth Rs. 400 and 350 respectively. All the material required, was purchased from local market as well as brought from Bombay and other places. The shops were managed entirely by members of owners' families. The working hours in the shops were eight per day. The business was more or less steady throughout the year.

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