Rice Milling

As paddy is the main crop of the district, rice milling forms one of its major industries. There were very a few rice mills prior to the First World War when paddy was dehusked  by the hand process. A number of rice mills were started after the First World War. The industry grew rapidly as there was abundance of cheap power and vicinity of market. During the thirties of the century it received a setback due to the fall in prices in the day of the great depression. It thrived again during the Second World War when Government imposed restrictions upon the moment of rice. In 1961 there were about 77 rice mills in the district concentrated in centre Tumsur, Bhandara, Adyal, Warthi, Sihora, Gondia, Tiroda, Goregaon, Amgaon, Mundikota. These mills were registered under the factories Act and were engaged in milling of numerous varieties of rice which were locally produced. A few of them were also engaged in making pohas (rice flakes). Most of the concerns had their own business of paddy milling. The total employment in the industry was near about 742 persons in 1961.

Of the various units 22 were surveyed. Most of these units were established after 1928. Some of the reporting units worked throughout the year, their working days varying between 180 and 300. The rice mills functioning seasonally nearly worked for 200 days.

The fixed capital of the 22 reporting units amounted to Rs. 19,20,000. The working capital of the 6 reporting units amounted to Rs. 7,42,500. The amount of working capital does not appear to be commensurate with fixed capital mainly due to the fact that some units did not purchase raw materials. The other contributory factor was the monopoly purchasing of paddy started by the Government in the district. At present the Government has fixed the quota for milling of rice to each unit, which only charge for milling and husking the rice. The rate of milling per hour reported by the unit was 6 quintals to 9 quintals.

Electricity was the chief fuel used, through mobile and crude oil was also used by some units. The monthly expenditure on fuel stood at Rs. 450 to Rs. 500.

The machinery consisted of grinding stones, rollers, elevators and fillers. Crushers and hullers were used for polishing and husking rice. When oil crushing was undertaken side by side, expellers and decorticators and electric motor or an oil-engine were deemed necessary. The investment of various concerns in machinery differed considerably.

These units employed 270 person including the supervisory staff. The skilled workers included mill driver and oil-men. The other staff included manager, clerk and supervisors. Besides, these units employed unskilled workers. The daily wages, paid to unskilled workers varied between Rs. 2 and Rs.2.50. Mill driver and oil-men were paid Rs. 90 and Rs. 60, respectively per month. The total annual wage bill as reported by 18 units was Rs.1,74,050 and bonus paid by three units was Rs. 4,940 in one year.

The working of almost all the units was disturbed was by the policy of monopoly procurement of paddy by the Government and some of them stopped functioning.

Bidi Making

Prominent among the large and small-scale industries in the Bhandara district is the manufacture of bidis. Tendu leaves required for bidis are found abundantly in the forest and there are a number of large-scale and small-scale factories manufacturing bidis. The large-scale factories were located at Bhandara, Gondia, Tiroda, Arjuni, Sihari, Warthi and Tumsur. These factories were mainly engaged in sorting and packing of bidis as the manufacture of bidis mainly goes on a small-scale basis and also through co-operative societies. Bidis prepared  by them were then sold on wholesale basis to large-scale factories, engaged in sorting and packing for export. There were 79 large and small-scale factories manufacturing bidis registered under the factories Act, and employing 3,412 persons in the district in 1961.

The Census Report of the Central Provinces and Berar, 1931, observed as follows : " The bidi factories are the most important of the unregulated establishment of this province falling within the scope of this memorandum. Approximately 866 of these establishment, which, manufacture a type of indigenous cigarette from Indian tobacco rolled up in tendu leaves are scattered all over the province and provide employment to about 42,240 person representing 80 per cent of the labour dealt with in this memorandum. The industry is, however, most concerned in the Bhandara district wherein 622 establishment 31,417 persons are employed. Jubbulpore district comes second with 80 establishments employing 3,321 persons. The growth of the industry has been remarkable in recent years. In the Census of 1921, enumerated biri establishment were 164 employing 7,680 persons. In 1925, approximately 225 such establishment were recorded employing 12,400 persons, while in 1927, the establishment were 776 employing 30,065 persons, including 15,568 children  under 15 years of age and as stated at present there are 866 establishment employing 42,240 persons. There is no doubt that the swadeshi movement which started during the first decade of the present century, gave the industry a very great impetus. The present the boycott moment has also further increased the demand for biris, and this trade is certainly not affected by the prevailing economic depression . Out of the 866 establishments, 185 belong to class (b) employing more than 50 persons a day, and 681 establishment, belong to class (c) employing less. The total number of employees consists of  18,257 males, 10,073 females and 13,910 children. Of the children, 43 per cent or nearly 6,000 are not more than 12 years of age."

Bidi making entirely done by hand and there was little or no use in machinery. The tool required were simple instruments, such as a brick furnace, metal trays for heating tobacco, a pair of scissors and a knife. The brick furnace is a peculiar construction of bricks for baking bidis. It is locally known as tundoor. Its cost  was usually in the neighbourhood of Rs. 2,000. Generally a factory had two tundoors and the baking capacity of a tundoors was two lakhs bidis a time. The process of baking bidis required nearly 12 hours. The bidis were picked soon after baking so as to keep them crisp and fresh.

Raw materials comprised tobacco a different qualities, leaves, thread, packing paper, labels etc. Quality tobacco which was favourite with the people, was purchased at Nipani (at Belgaum district), Kolhapur and Kaira (in Gujarat State) markets. The leaves used for holding tobacco were generally tendu leaves obtained locally in the district as also from other areas in the State. The length of bidis was not uniform and varied according to regional demand. As such as quantity of tobacco required for 1,000 bidis varied between 349.91 and 524.87 grams. Packing charges through small, formed an important element of the cost of production.

The output of bidis manufactured was fairly small during rainy season when lebourers  were engaged in agricultural operations. It increased after harvest when they had more time at their disposal for bidi making. The minimum wages per 1,000 bidis were fixed at Rs. 1.65 in municipal areas and Rs. 1.37 in non-municipal areas. The work did not involve special skill and as such there was a keen competition among the workers. It was observed that the rate of wages offered was low.

Some of the factories had branches in the neighbouring  districts of Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh. They collected quite a large number of bidis from the feeder factories and the annual turnover of these factories was considerably large. The bidis were marketed all over Maharashtra as well as in other States.

The permanent staff of these factories very often included manager, accountant, cashier, bidi checkers or supervisors and tundoorwallas. They were paid on monthly basis. The number of workers employed in the large-scale and small-scale factories was 30,000 to 40,000 and 13,000, respectively. The daily production of these factories amounted to 2.5 to 3 crore bidis.

Printing and Book-binding

The industry is of comparatively recent and its development is generally associated with the growth of educational activities. In 1961, there were three printing presses registered under the Factories Act, which employed 237 workers in the district. Of these, 2 presses were surveyed , one of which was established in 1936 and the other in 1950. They were located at Gondia and worked perennially. The number of working days ranged between 275 and 350.

The fixed capital of the reporting concerns amounted to Rs. 13,16,000 whereas their working capital stood at Rs. 2,12,000.

The equipment and machinery used by these presses differed according to the magnitude of their investment. Printing work consists of litho-printing., offset-printing and block-printing . Preparation of drawings and designs, cutting and book-binding, block making and type foundry are some of the processes under-taken by these presses. The machinery of printing and composing, comprised cylinder printing machine, automatic cylinders, latter-press printing machine, treadle machine and hand presses. The binding machine included stitching, cutting, ruling, perforated, punching, folding, numbering, eyeletting and card-board cutting machine. The printing machine in the largest press were modern, consisting of offset machines, lino and mono printing machines, automatic caster, engraver and litho machines.

Power was used by most of the concerns. The annual consumption of power by the reporting units amounted to Rs.42,000.

The total number of workers in the reporting concerns was 255. An amount of Rs. 5,07,200 was paid to them annually by way of wages, salaries and bonus. Of the reporting two concerns one employed 250 persons and paid to its workers Rs. 5 lakhs by way of salaries, wages and bonus annually ; while the other one employed 5 person and paid them Rs. 7,200 by way of salaries and wages annually.

The main raw materials used by these concerns were paper, varnish, spirit, wax, ink, type metal, stationary and binding materials. Paper of varicus types like art paper, leather paper and brown paper was the largest single item was expenditure. Ink, glue, mobile oil, soap and kerosene were required for printing. Binding cloth, rexine, lather canvas, glue and card-board were used for binding. Paper was purchased from big commercial centres. Superior art paper was imported from foreign countries. Other raw material were purchased from Nagpur and Bombay. The reporting big concern purchased annually raw materials worth Rs. 20 lakhs while the small one consumed raw materials worth Rs. 1,200.

One of the reporting concerns at Gondia was engaged in litho-graphic printing and particular printing of bidi labels, zilli, posters, etc., on a large scale. The other concern was engaged in printing of forms, bills, cash, memos, letter heads, hands bills, registers, etc. The total productive capacity of the reporting big concern was of the value of Rs. 30 lakhs. The main difficulties faced by this industry were in regard to the replacement of outmoded  and worn-out machinery, obtaining raw materials and dearth of skilled personnel.

Glassware

There is one unit engaged in glassware industry located at Gondia. The main products of this industry are chimney, lampwares, bottles, jars, jugs, tumblers and flower vases. Manufacturing processes in this unit are mostly hand-operated, and therefore, capital investments in fixed assets are proportionately less than the working capital. The unit meets its requirements of working capital by borrowing from private sources.

The main processes, namely blowing, pressing and cutting are done by skilled workers by hand. The unit works in two shifts and the total production of this unit exceeds the installed capacity per shift. The production of this unit meets only a fraction of the current demand for the products in the district. About 50 to 60 per cent of the production finds markets outside the district, viz., Bombay and Calcutta. It was assessed that production was not oriented to the demand pattern of the people in the area. The sale of the certain products like chimney is mostly confined to the rural areas and as such does not face much competition from products imported from outside the district, which generally meet the demand of urban population. This unit employs the agency of wholesalers for the sale of its products in and outside the district on commission basis. The commission rate paid by them ranges between 12 per cent and 25 per cent according to the type of product and volume of sales.

The percentage of skilled workers to the total number of employees was fairly high. The wage rate generally offered varied between Rs. 2.50 and 4 per day for a skilled labourer and between Rs. 1.25 and 1.75 for an unskilled labourer. The unit reported difficulty in getting skilled labour at the existing wages rates. 

The unit was handicapped in its manufacturing activity due to insufficient a availability of raw materials like soda ash, sand, coal and tin sheets. The shortage of high grade coal was accentuated with the commissioning of the Bhilai Steel Plant. Consequently, the unit had to depend on coal available from Chandrapur. The high contents of ash in it, rendered it unsuitable for use by the unit. The unit favoured the setting up of a quartz crashing plant to ensure regular supply of sand.

Saw Milling

The most valuable species found in the forest in the district is teak. It has a reputation for the decorative veneer in large size and as important constructional timber. The bulk of the forest produce is consumed locally in furniture making and residential constructions. Khair is used for preparing of kath (catechu). A number of saw mills were established in Bhandara district to utilise the forest produce. There were 7 saw mills registered under the factories Act, and employing 87 person in 1961.

A survey of five units was conducted. These units were located at Gondia, Tumsur, Tirora and Amgaon, and worked seasonally. The number of working days per year generally varied between 180 and 200 days. The total amount of fixed capital reported by three units  together amounted to Rs. 44.200 and working capital reported by two units was of the order of Rs. 75,000. The machinery consisted of band saw machine, circular saw, moulding machine, sharpening machine, grinder and electric motor. The value of machinery varied from unit to unit but was generally in the neighbourhood of Rs. 15, 000.    

The principal item of  raw material was wood (especially teak). The total quantity of wood consumed by the reporting two units during one year was valued at Rs. 80,000. Electricity was the chief fuel used by the units and the monthly consumption amounted to between Rs. 70 and Rs. 100 by each unit. The reporting units employed 28 persons, comprising workers and other staff. Skilled workers were paid from Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 per day and unskilled workers were paid from Rs. 2 to Rs. 2.50 per day. The other staff were paid on monthly basis. 

The product of the industry were swan timber and timber waste. The outturn of the units was sizeable. The unit cut wooden slabs of timber according to the size ordered by the customers especially for house building purposes.

Oil-mills

Oil-seed crushing is a fairly old industry of the district and has been organised for many years as an industry on a small-scale. In former timers times, every village used to have its own oil-men, and ghanis for crushing of oil-seeds. But in recent times due to the competition from the oil-mills the artisans have lost their business considerably. The number of oil-mills in Bhandara district registered under the factories Act, was three and they employed 11 persons, in 1961.

Two units located at Gondia were surveyed. Of these reporting units, one was established in 1960. These units worked seasonally and their working days varied considerably. The amount of fixed capital employed in these units was Rs. 15,000, and that of working capital Rs. 55,000.

The raw material used by these units mainly consisted of linseed, groundnut and other oil-seeds, which were generally available locally in the district. The same were also imported from outside. As compared to other oil-seeds the area under cultivation of linseed is more in Bhandara district. It was 46,618.76 hectares in 1964-65. The extensive acreage under linseed and its fairly large production assures adequate supply of the raw materials for the industry. Caustic soda is used in the process of extraction and is imported from outside. The value of raw materials consumed by the reporting units average about Rs. 1,25,000 every year.

The machinery consisted of decorticator for dehusking the oil-seeds, expeller for crushing the seeds, hullers and the filter pump for oil purification and electric motor. They were purchased from Nagpur and Bombay. Electric power was generally used as fuel. The value of fuel used by these two reporting units amounted to Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,300 per month, respectively. The reporting units employed five workers. The daily wages paid to them varied between Rs. 2 and Rs. 2.50. The oil-men and fitters were paid on monthly basis.

The product mainly included linseed oil and oil-cake. The total value of the products as reported by one unit amounted to Rs. 2,00,000. The products were sold locally in the district. The difficulty faced by the reporting units was non-availability of working capital. 

Snuff Manufacturing

There is one unit manufacturing snuff, located at Gondia in the district. It was established before 1955, and now works as a perennial industry. The unit employs only five person who are paid each Rs. 80 as wage per month. 

The main raw materials used are tobacco and simple snuff which are obtained from Sihor (Gujarat state). Subsidiary raw materials, such as, clay, chemicals, etc., are obtain from Bombay. This unit consumes raw materials worth Rs. 7,000 every year.

Mixture of raw tobacco and water is allowed to ferment for about eight days. After it is melted and denatured, wet tobacco is dried completely in the sun before grinding. Then grinding is done with the help of a mill. The tobacco in the form of dust or flour is kept in an earthen vessels and churned continuously with a wooden rod after adding a little water mixed with other chemicals to attain smoothness and fragrance. The powder is then filtered through a piece of cloth and finally packed in small boxes for marketing. The products are marketed in the district itself.

The difficulty faced by this unit is shortage of capital.

Plastic Industry

There is one factory established in 1963, at Gondia engaged in the production of plastic goods for which there is a good demand in the district as well as outside the district. It produces a variety of products, such as, plastic pipes, bags, cloth, etc. Most of the raw materials are purchased from Bombay. The unit uses raw materials valued at Rs. 80,000 every year. It is a perennial industry. The equipment and machinery used by the factory are valued at Rs. 36,000. Electricity is used to serve as fuel and power, and the monthly consumption of unit ranges between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300. The unit has seven workers on its staff and their wages range between Rs. 45 and Rs. 85 per month. The annual production capacity of this unit is estimated at two lakhs of rupees. The products of marketed throughout the country.