(51) Cane
Bamboo Making:
In 1981-82, 3 units were engaged in
the industry which gave employment to 3 persons and produced mulberry baskets,
chicks, etc. worth Rs. 0.9 lakhs.
(52) Ban
and Rope Making:
This
is an old industry of the district which has been developed very much. Its production has gone up. the essential raw materials of the industry
are munj and buggar. Some of the units have also installed foot-driven and
power-driven machines, etc.
In
1981-82, 11 units were engaged in the industry, which gave employment to 12
persons and produced goods worth Rs. 0.30 lakhs.
(h) Role
of Industrial Co-operative
The main aim of industrial co-operatives is to give employment to the weaker section of the society on the basis of which industrial societies are organized of artisans. Poor artisans with meager money unite together and from an industrial co-operative society. In 1981-82, there were 285 industrial co-operative societies in the Kapurthala District, out of which 25 were handloom weaving societies, 48 were khadi and village industries, 173 were small-scale societies and 3 of handicraft. Small-scale societies, mostly situated at Phagwara, are engaged in manufacturing motor spare parts, diesel engines, pumping-sets and material relating to defence purposes. These societies are the only source for the poor artisans through which they avail of the facilities such as financial assistance, supply of raw material, technical guidance and marketing.
The
particulars regarding the industrial co-operative societies in the district,
during 1981-82, are given in the following tables:-
Number and Membership of the Industrial Co-operative-operative Societies and the value of goods produced by these in the Kapurthala District, 1981-82
|
Name of Industry |
No. of Industrial Co-operative Societies |
Membership |
Value of goods produced (Rs. in lakhs) |
|
Union |
- |
- |
- |
|
Handloom Weaving |
25 |
423 |
1.07 |
|
Khadi and Village Industries |
84 |
1,056 |
8.77 |
|
Small-scale Industries |
173 |
2,046 |
84.95 |
|
Handicraft |
3 |
90 |
- |
(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala)
The
industrial Co-operatives in the State were under the control of Co-operative
Department up to April 1963, when the industrial co-operative wing was
transferred to the Industries Department.
In 1974-75, the industrial co-operative was retransferred to the
Co-operative Department. The Assistant
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala is in charge of the industrial
co-operative societies in the Kapurthala District.
The amount of loans and subsidies
given by Government to the industrial
co-operative societies in the district, during 1976-77 to 1981-82, is given
below:
(Rs. in lakhs)
|
|
1976-77 |
1977-78 |
1978-79 |
1979-80 |
1980-81 |
1981-82 |
|
Loans advanced |
1.95 |
2.91 |
7.98 |
- |
0.10 |
0.10 |
|
Subsidies given |
- |
3.43 |
6.53 |
0.27 |
0.06 |
0.08 |
(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, Kapurthala)
The
following table shows the progress made by the industrial co-operatives in the
district, during 1976-77 to 1981-82:-
|
Particulars |
Year |
|||||
|
1976-77 |
1977-78 |
1978-79 |
1979-80 |
1980-81 |
1981-82 |
|
|
No. of Industrial Co-operative Societies |
271 |
276 |
287 |
288 |
289 |
290 |
|
Membership |
3,626 |
3,636 |
3,659 |
3,604 |
3,615 |
3,615 |
|
Share Capital (Rs. in lakhs) |
17.03 |
13.56 |
17.80 |
19.82 |
19.89 |
20.38 |
|
Working Capital (Rs. in lakhs) |
41.85 |
55.98 |
59.31 |
57.24 |
56.31 |
59.41 |
|
Production (Rs. in lakhs) |
29.32 |
32.92 |
40.20 |
59.19 |
84.22 |
94.79 |
|
Sales (Rs. in lakhs) |
30.32 |
40.12 |
38.08 |
59.19 |
84.22 |
94.79 |
(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative
Societies, Kapurthala )
(i) Labour and
Employers’ Organizations
Labour Organizations:
Prior to 1919, the labour
legislation in India was rudimentary and related only to factories, mines and
migration. The first Act which gave
recognition to the right of the labourers to combine themselves into a union to
secure redress of their grievances was the Trade Union Act of 1926. This Act recognized the All India Trade Union
Congress, which had been holding annual sessions since 1920 and had a number of
unions affiliated to it. The
representation given to labour, first by the Government of India Act, 1935 and
later by the Constitution through special constituencies comprising registered
Trade Unions, has been responsible for not only an increase in the number of
the unions but has also promoted the efficiency of their working by ensuring
maintenance of proper books of account and registers of members. The compulsory recognition by the employees
of the trade unions (made possible by the Indian Trade Unions Amendment Act,
1947) has given further impetus to the movement by imparting more strength and
vitality to the unions. In spite of the
stupendous difficulties in the way of the movement because of the peculiar conditions
prevailing in the country such as the floating character of the labour
population, its heterogeneity, indiscipline, poverty, illiteracy, etc., the
trade union movement has made considerable headway. There are 36 registered trade unions in the Kapurthala
District. The particulars of trade
unions, registered under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926, functioning in the
district are given in the Appendix at the end of this chapter at pages 124 to
125.
(j) Welfare
of Industrial Labour
Labour Welfare is one major aspect of
national programmes towards bettering the lot of labour and creating a life and
work environment of decent comfort for this class of population. Broadly speaking, measures and activities
undertaken by the State, employers and associations of workers for the
improvement of workers’ standards of life and for the promotion of their
economic and social well-being are labeled as welfare work. It also includes work for improving the
health, safety, general well being and the industrial efficiency of the workers
beyond the minimum standards laid down by the Factories Act and other labour
legislation.
For
the first time the establishment of canteens in factories was statutorily laid
down by the Factories (Amendment) Act of 1947.
The period subsequent to 1947 also saw the framing of laws to promote
welfare facilities in several industries.
In the Factories Act, 1948, the Plantation Act, 1951, and the Mines Act,
1952, provision has been made for canteens, crèches, rest shelters, washing
facilities, medical aid and for the appointment of labour officers, if the
industrial establishments covered by them employ the minimum number of workers
prescribed. Thus, there has been a
steady expansion of activities relating to workers’ welfare, not only in
quantum but much more significantly in regard to its content and spirit.
There
are two labour welfare centers in the district, one each at Kapurthala and
Phagwara. These centers provide
training and recreational facilities to the workers and their families,
organize indoor and outdoor games, conduct sewing, knitting and embroidery
classes, and organize entertainment programmes like dramas, music classes,
radio broadcasts, etc. Besides, there
are two balwadis at Phagwara, which have on its roll 40 children each. These children are in the age group of 3 to
6 years and are also provided with mid-day meals.
APPENDIX
List of Registered Trade Unions in the Kapurthala District, as on 31 March 1982
|
Serial No. |
Name of Trade Union |
Date of registration |
|
1 |
Jagatjit Distilling Mazdoor Union, Hamira |
6-1-1953 |
|
2 |
Jagatjit Sugar Mill mazdoor Union, Phagwara |
24-10-1956 |
|
3 |
Jagatjit Kapra Mill Mazdoor Union, Phagwara |
8-10-1958 |
|
4 |
Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills Mazdoor Samaj, Phagwara |
8-10-1958 |
|
5 |
Sukhjit Starch and Chemical Workers’ Union, Phagwara |
26-10-1962 |
|
6 |
Muneem Union, Kapurthala |
1-1-1963 |
|
7 |
General Metal and Engineering Workers’ Union, Kapurthala |
11-4-1963 |
|
8 |
Jagatjit Kapra Mill Trade Union Congress, Phagwara |
1-1-1964 |
|
9 |
Rubber, Leather and General Industries Workers’ Union, Kapurthala |
8-8-1968 |
|
10 |
Sugar Mill Labour Union, Phagweara |
30-1-1967 |
|
11 |
E.P.T. Mazdoor Sabha, Phagwara |
9-2-1967 |
|
12 |
Trade Employees’ Union, Phagwara |
11-4-1967 |
|
13 |
Labour Union, Jagatjit Industries Hamira |
1-4-1967 |
|
14 |
General Mazdoor Union, Phagwara |
6.2.1969 |
|
15 |
Mechanical Karamchari Sangh, Phagwara |
6.2.1969 |
|
16 |
Punjab Bone Mill Mazdoor Union, Chaheru |
26.4.1969 |
|
17 |
Metal Mazdoor Union, Phagwara |
24.9.1969 |
|
18 |
Leather and Rubber Karamchari Sangh, Kapurthala |
8.10.1969 |
|
19 |
Mechanical Karamchari Sangh, Kapurthala |
8.10.1969 |
|
20 |
Galla Mazdoor Union, Phagwara |
25.8.1975 |
|
21 |
J.J. Sugar Mill Workers’ Union, Phagwara |
3.1.1976 |
|
22 |
Starch Mill Labour Union, Phagwara |
12.11.1976 |
|
23 |
Co-operative Consumer Store Employees’ Union Phagwara |
15.3.78 |
|
24 |
Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Employees’ Union, Phagwara |
8-5-1978 |
|
25 |
All India Ex-Servicemen Bank Employees’ Federation, Phagwara |
20.1.1979 |
|
26 |
Painter Employees’ Union, Phagwara |
17.6.1979 |
|
27 |
Sainik School Class IV Employees’ Union, Kapurthala |
18.10.1979 |
|
28 |
Amritsar Bank Employees’ Union, Phagwara |
.. |
|
29 |
Flour and Oil Mill Labour Union, Phagwara |
.. |
(Source: Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Chandigarh )
(A) Banking and
Finance
|
v Merchants’ and Consumers’ in Associations and Organs
for the Dissemination of Trade News |
(a) History of
Indigenous Banking
Kautilya—the prime minister of Chandragupt Maurya-in his politico-economic treatise ‘Arthashastra’ refers to the existence of indigenous banking in Bist Doab of which the district of Kapurthala is a part. Indigenous banking institutions had significant impact on the trade and commerce in the district as in the whole of the Doab. The system of hundis—an instrument of credit—was prevalent.
In
early periods, lending money was easier and simple as it was only the sahukar
(the indigenous money-lender), who financed his clients closely known to
him. Very little documentation was
involved. The money-lenders, who at
some state were known for fulfilling the emergent needs of the people, later on
came to be regarded as usurious for their malpractices. Exorbitant rates of interest were charged
and fictious entries worked to the detriment of the illiterate borrowers. The interest was compounded at short
intervals and it soon exceeded the principal, creating circumstances under
which the borrower had to part with all his land and belongings. The stability brought by the British led to
rise in the nature of land which became first-rate investment. The money-lender misused his position by
accumulating capital, and, finding its investment more and more lucrative got
the cultivator into his clutches with increasing ingenuity and finally ousted
him from his land in numerous instances.
He imposed hard terms in mortgages and land became the property of the
sahukar with alarming frequency.
The
malpractices of money-lenders attracted the attention of the government and the
Punjab Alienation of Land Act of 1990 (XIII of 1900) was passed to safeguard
the interests of the borrowers. Since
then, the money-lender had been content with the produce, and a new class, the
agriculturist money-lender came to the force.
The Act, however, did not improve the lot of tillers. Since the money-lender could not lend up to the
limit of what could be repaid from the produce, the new agriculturists
money-lender (to whom the Act did not apply)
could lend up to the value of land.
He was, therefore, at liberty to offer attractive terms to the tiller,
and he proved more usurious than the moneylender and was always on the look out
for the borrowers’ misfortunes. Thus, the Act aggravated the difficulties of
the borrowers. The government,
therefore, brought fresh legislation like the Punjab Regulation of Accounts
Act, 1930, the Punjab Debtors’ Protection Act, 1936, and the Punjab
Registration of Money-lenders Act, 1938, which, however, affected the village
money-lenders Act, 1938, which, however, affected the village money-lenders
adversely by restricting their credit operations as well as the peasantry. Therefore, the urgency of creating an agency
for providing finance to the agriculturists was felt. The Royal Commission on agriculture recommended the development
of co-operation as the only hope of
rural India. The first step in this
direction was the passage of an Act in 1904 which pioneered the movement in
rural India. It was inadequate to meet
the increasing needs of the co-operation movement and to meet the deficiency,
the Co-operative Societies Act of 1912
was passed. Although this Act
widened the scope of the movement by permitting the registration of secondary
societies like non-credit societies and central financing institutions, viz.
central co-operative banks, provincial banks and unions, its scope remained
simply a credit movement. Despite the
various flaws in the 1904 and 1912 Acts, the number of co-operative societies,
formed for principal purposes like consumption, sale, insurance, purchase and
production, has been steadily on the increase.
Still, the credit side of the co-operation movement continues to occupy
the dominant position. During 1981082,
there were 140 agricultural credit
societies in the district with a membership of 64,919.
(b)
General Credit
Facilities
(i) Indebtedness, Rural
and Urban
Amounts borrowed for improvement in
agriculture, are often not used for the purpose and are partly spent on
extravagant living, pursuit of orthodox customs and ceremonies.
Urban
indebtedness which means the amount borrowed by industrialists, traders and the
business communities, is on the other hand properly used.
Rate of Interest:
As in other districts of the State,
the interest rate in the Kapurthala District varies from place to place, from
one lending agency to another. Its
variation also depends upon the purpose for which the amount is borrowed. In the district, the joint stock banks and
commercial banks charge interest as fixed by the Reserve Bank of India from
time to time. the rates of interest of
these banks also differ in respect of different classes of persons and
according to the amounts advanced for different purposes. The co-operative societies advance loans on
interest ranging from 2½ per cent to 8 per cent. Amounts advanced under the State Aid to Industries Act, 1935,
carry interest from 2½ per cent to 6½ per cent. Moneylenders on the other hand, charge interest varying from 12
per cent to 25 per cent or even more.
Although the government has restricted transactions by unregistered
moneylenders, they continue to exist and function on a small-scale. In the rural areas, interest is calculated
in kind when the loan is advanced in kind.
For instance, a moneylender advances loan in the form of a quintal of
wheat and in return, he recovers a quintal and a half at the time of
harvest. Such practices are
disappearing rapidly as large number of money-lending institutions are coming
up in the rural areas which extend financial assistance to the cultivators and
farmers are gaining in monetary strength.
The
system of usury has become outdated because extensive banking facilities have
been provided in all areas of the district.
There are just a few registered moneylenders who charge reasonable rates
of interest.
(ii) Role of
private moneylenders and
Financers
Moneylenders:
Despite numerous banking facilities
in the rural areas of the district, the moneylender or the bania still holds an
important position. Although the
co-operative movement has considerably reduced malpractices of these
money-lenders, they have not been
eliminated. The rural moneylender
adopts several methods of advancing loans such as on personal surety, against
produce and land, ornaments, property, etc.
The rural moneylender mainly advances loans to the needy and is
responsible for the good amount of banking credit available in the
district. He generally runs a grocery
shop in the village and advances loans to the ruralities for consumption
purposes. He recovers the loan advanced
at the time of harvest. Thus, the
village moneylender still continues to have an important position for the
indigent cultivator in times of need.
Under
the provisions of the Punjab Registration of Moneylenders Act, 1938, the
moneylenders are required to get themselves registered with the concerned
Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) and obtain a license. Besides, they are required to keep regular accounts in the books
prescribed under the Act. The number of
registered moneylenders in the district, as on 31 March 1982, was 13 (8 in the
urban and 5 in the rural areas).
(iii) Government and
Semi-Government Credit Agencies
The moneylending business of the
indigenous bankers like sahukars and moneylenders has been adversely affected
during recent years, because the Government
and Semi-Government Credit agencies advance loans and provide finances
in the rural and urban areas of the district.
The loans are advanced through the agencies like the Punjab Financial
Corporation, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Joint Stock Banks,
Co-operative Banks and Co-operative Societies.
Established in 1953, the Punjab Financial Corporation provides medium
and long-term loans to industrial concerns established in the State. It provides finances upto Rs. 20 lakhs in
the case of public limited company or a registered co-operative society and up
to Rs. 10 lakhs in other cases. The
corporation charges rate of interest from 3 per cent above the bank rate with a
minimum of 9 per cent per annum. The
loans advanced by the corporation are repayable in 10 years. These loans are advanced against
hypothetication of land, buildings, plant and machinery, etc. with a margin of
40 per cent of the net assessed value.
In case of the Government guarantee, the margin is reduced from 40
percent to 20 per cent. The Khadi and
Village Industries Commission and the Industries Department also advance
loans. Whereas, the former meets the
requirements of the village industries by advancing short-term loans, the
latter gives financial assistance to the industries for setting up new
industrial units and for extension/modernizing of existing units under the
State Aid to Industries Act, 1935, on nominal rates of interest. Besides, the Government and the Co-operative
Societies advance loans to the agriculturists for the purchase of agricultural implements, seeds, fertilizers, etc. against
promissory notes. The Joint Stock Banks
and Co-operative Banks advance loans against gold, shares and securities,
agricultural commodities and other
easily marketable goods.
(iv) Joint Stock Banks:
Although
banking was efficiently practiced in India in early times, joint stock banking
started developing on organized pattern in the early part of this century. There was an enormous growth of these banks
during the first decade of the twentieth century. But later on there were bank failures on a large scale. In the circumstances, the inefficient and
uneconomic banking units were closed down and the weaker ones were merged into
the stronger ones, which was instrumental in strengthening the banking
structure.
In
the Kapurthala District, modern organized system of banking was introduced for
the first time with the opening of the Kapurthala Central Co-operative Bank at
Phagwara in 1920. Prior to the opening
of this bank, there was the Phagwara Co-operative Union Ltd., which financed
both the agriculturists and industrialists.
But this union was merged with the Kapurthala Central Co-operative Bank
in 1920.
There
are a good number of Joint Stock Banks which are operating their branches in
the district. For instance, State Bank
of Patiala opened its first branch at Kapurthala on 1 October 1950. The Punjab National Bank was the second
Joint Stock Bank to open its branch at Kapurthala on 22 June 1951. The Central Bank of India opened its
branches at Phagwara and Kapurthala in 1958 and 1972 respectively. With the passage of time, all the banks
engaged themselves in expansioning their establishments, thereby, opening their
branches at various places in the district.
At present, the Punjab National Bank is the ‘lead bank’ in the district.
The
different leading Joint Stock Banks, which have their branches in the district,
are as under:
1.
State
Bank of India
2.
State
Bank of Patiala
3.
Punjab
National Bank
4.
Central
Bank of India
5.
Allahabad
Bank
6.
United
Commercial Bank
7.
Indian
Overseas Bank
8.
United
Bank of India
9.
Bank
of Baroda
10.
Indian
Bank
11.
New
Bank of India
12.
Punjab
and Sind Bank
13.
Oriental
Bank of Commerce
14.
Hindustan
Commercial Bank
15.
The
Lakshmi Commercial Bank Ltd.
16.
Vijay
Bank
The number of banking offices in the
district, as in June 1980, is given in Appendix India, on page 143.
The
total deposits and banking credit in the district, as on the last Friday of
March 1982, amounted to Rs. 11,972 lakhs and Rs. 3,620 lakhs, respectively.
(v) Post Office
Savings Bank Account
In 1981-82, the number of depositors
who opened new accounts with the post office savings bank in the district was
3,371. The gross deposit in all the
accounts with the post office savings bank in the district, as on 31 March
1982, amounted to Rs. 3,55,86,454.
(vi) Co-operative Credit
With
the passage of the first Co-operative Societies Act, 1904, the cooperative
movement was launched in the country.
The main defect in this Act was that it allowed the formation of only
credit societies. To remove the
inadequacies of the Act, a new Act was passed in 1912 which accelerated the development of the movement by
permitting the formation of non-credit societies and central institutions. Since its inception, the movement has passed
through phases of rectification and cautious expansion, thereby expanding its
scope to marketing, processing and many other aspects of economic and social
life in the country. The co-operative
movement was introduced in the Kapurthala District in 1913 with the formation
of an agricultural co-operative society at Bholath Sharki. Gradually, the movement spread in whole of
the district. Consequently, the
co-operative societies were set up at various places in the district. The passage of the Acts of 1954 and 1961
further gave a fillip to the movement, thereby resulting in the multiplication
of co-operative societies. In 1980-81,
there were 953 co-operative societies in the district, of which 184 were
co-operative credit societies. Besides,
a central Co-operative Bank functions at Kapurthala with 20 branches (including
Head Office) at different places in the district.
Co-operative Credit Societies:
Usually the moneylender advanced
loans and other essential commodities on credit to the borrowers and preferred
to buy the produce of the latter, in lieu thereof, at concessional rates. This exploitation of the cultivators acted
like a double-edged blade, i.e. high rate of interest on the loans advanced to
the poor cultivators, and the low price given for their produce. The powers of the moneylenders were
curtailed considerably with the passage of the Punjab Registration of
Money-Lenders, Act 1938. the
co-operative societies aim at eliminating the moneylender as a class.
During
1980-81, there were 184 co-operative credit (140 agricultural and 44 non-agricultural) societies in the
district. These societies mobile
savings of the members and advance loans at reasonable rates of interest for
productive purposes.
The
details regarding the membership and the working of the agricultural and non-agricultural societies, functioning in the district,
during 1976-77 to 1981-82, are given in Appendices II and III on pages 144 and
145.
(c) Insurance and
Small Savings
Insurance:
So far as the life insurance
business is concerned, the Kapurthala District has not remained far
behind. It was only after the
establishment of the Life Insurance Corporation of India on 1 September 1956,
that its first branch was opened in the district at Phagwara in March
1961. Later on, another branch of the
Corporation was opened at Kapurthala in August 1972.
The
Life Insurance Corporation covers the life risk. It also advances loans to the policyholders as well as to the
Government and semi-Government
concerns. It charges rates of interest,
i.e. 9 per cent and 11 per cent against policies and houses, respectively.
The
number of Development Officers and Agents in the district, as on 31 March 1982,
was 11 and 146 respectively. The
following statement shows the branch-wise business secured by the Life
Insurance Corporation of India in the district, during 1979-80 to 1981-82:
Business secured by the Life Insurance Corporation of India in the Kapurthala District from 1979-80 to 1981-82
|
Name of Branch |
Year |
|||||
|
1979-80 |
1980-81 |
1981-82 |
||||
|
No. of policies |
(‘000 Rs) |
No. of policies |
(‘000 Rs.) |
No. of policies |
(‘000 Rs.) |
|
|
Kapurthala |
1,191 |
22,225 |
1,061 |
24,948 |
1,140 |
35,619 |
|
Phagwara |
952 |
16,084 |
1,040 |
22,988 |
788 |
17,740 |
(Source: Senior Divisional Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Divisional Office, Jalandhar)
The
district has remained backward so far as the general insurance business is
concerned. Before the establishment of
the Life Insurance Corporation of India, there was neither any office of any
Insurance Company nor any Chief Agency in the district. The insurance business was procured by the
agents and inspectors of various Insurance Companies. Prior to the nationalization of the general insurance companies,
on 1 January 1973, the Life Insurance
Corporation had already started general insurance business besides private
insurance. But after their
nationalization the general insurance companies emerged as an apex body known
as the General Insurance Corporation. Under this Corporation, 4 general
insurance companies, viz; The Oriental Fire and General Insurance Company Ltd.,
do general insurance transactions.
According to the working of these companies, the general insurance
policies of all types are issued for a period of only one year and these are
renewable every year. Under the general
insurance, the risks covered are of three types, viz.; fire, marine
(transportation of goods), and miscellaneous insurance. Under miscellaneous insurance, there are
nearly 20 to 25 types of insurance including motor insurance besides other
types of insurance like fidelity guarantee, aviation insurance, burglary,
personal existence, etc. In the
district, only one general insurance company i.e. The National Insurance Company
Ltd. is functioning at Phagwara. It was
opened on 8 February 1978.
Small Savings:
Small Savings Scheme is sponsored by
the Central Government with a view to inculcating in the masses the habit of
thrift and raising funds for the economic development of the country. This scheme is controlled by the department
of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Since its inception, the scheme has gained
lot of popularity especially among the ruralities. In the States, the National Savings Organization is headed by the
Regional Director, National Savings, Government of India. The Regional Office for the Punjab State is
stationed at Jalandhar. Its Regional
Director has under him 3 Assistant Regional Directors, National Savings, one
each at Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar.
In the Kapurthala District, there is a District Savings Officer who
promotes the objects of the scheme in the district. All these officers are under the direct control of the National
Savings Commissioner.
With
a view to having effective coordination between the Central Organization and
the State Governments, Directorates of Small Savings have been set up in
various States. The Director, Small
Savings, Punjab, Chandigarh, is the head of the Small Savings Department in the
State. At the district level, the
District Savings Officer is the effective coordinator between the Central
Organization and District Authorities in the promotion and growth of the
scheme.
The
number of accredited agents, who worked for small savings on commission basis
in the district, as on 31 March 1982 was 79.
The number of agents under Mahila Pradhan Rashtriya Bachat Yojna was 56.
The
gross and net collections under the small savings scheme in the district,
during 1976-77 to 1981-82, are given below:
|
Year |
Gross Collection (Rs in Lakhs) |
Net Collection (Rs in Lakhs) |
|
1976-77 |
197.50 |
(-) 4.51 |
|
1977-78 |
131.35 |
17.35 |
|
1978-79 |
223.31 |
107.25 |
|
1979-80 |
375.61 |
136.05 |
|
1980-81 |
432.39 |
121.87 |
|
1981-82 |
646.21 |
161.20 |
(Source: District Savings Officer, Kapurthala )
(d) Currency and
Coinage
During
the Sikh rule, the coins consisted of the silver rupee and the gold buqti in
the Kapurthala area. Besides, copper
coins of smaller denominations were also in circulation.
During
the British regime and after the Independence (1947) upto 1 April 1957, the
coins consisted of the silver rupee and eitht—anna (dheli or athani)
and four—anna (pauli or choani) pieces, the nickel two—anna (dwani)
and one—anna pieces, besides the copper pice and pies. A rupee consisted of 16 annas or 64 pice or
192 pies. An anna equaled 4 pice or 12
pies, and a pice equaled 3 pies.
From
1 April 1957, the decimal coinage was introduced in the country to bring about
uniformity with currencies of countries abroad. This has made easy the system
of calculation and keeping of accounts. The decimal coinage completely replaced
the old coinage system from 1 April 1964. Although at the initial stage, the
people, especially in the rural areas of the district felt enormous difficulty
in transactions, now they are fully conversant with this system. Naya paisa, named so in the beginning, came
to be called as paisa with effect from 1 June 1964 when the old coinage was
completely withdrawn.
Although
all monetary transactions are spoken of in terms of decimal coinage, yet there
are still many old traders in the district who have not abandoned the use of
words dheli or athani (for 50 paise), pauli or choani
(for 25 paise) and dwani (for 12 paise).
Under the decimal coinage system, a rupee consists of 100 paise with different coins of the denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 paise and one rupee. Currency notes are issued in the denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 rupees
(B) Trade and
Commerce
For a long time, the district has
been a focal point of regional trade. During British regime, it was a beg
centre of trade in metals, textiles and agricultural commodities. The principal
items of export to distant places were excellent brass, copper and bell-metal bronze. These were manufactured at Phagwara in the
district. Besides, sugar of excellent
quality was manufactured here.
Sultanpur Lodhi was widely known for the manufacture and trade of gabrun
cloth, and bed sheets locally known as satrang. Besides, tobacco, chillies and dates were largely grown. These commodities had their markets all over
the country. In addition, cloth
curtains, chintz, chicks and jazams (floor covering) of excellent quality were
produced here and exported to other countries).
In
tehsil Phagwara, the place known as Kala was widely known for trade in cotton
and carded cloth.
Thus
in the district, Phagwara, Kapurthala and Kala have had been important centers
of trade. The partition of the country
in 1947, the Indo-Pakistan conflicts of 1965 and 1971 did not affect trade in
the district much. In recent years, all
the commodities manufactured in and exported from the district right from the
British period up till the Independence of the country, have flourished. The main items exported from the district
are sugar, khandsari, wheat, maize, gram, cotton, paddy, rice, and textiles.
(a) Course of
Trade
As in other districts of the State, the usual course of trade in the Kapurthala District is through the dealers who are the members of the regulated market committees. As the economy of the district is primarily agrarian, the course of trade is mostly done in agricultural produce. The cultivators bring their agricultural commodities to the nearest mandi (market) where the dealers sell it to the traders who export it by different modes of transportation. In the villages also, transaction of foodgrains is done where kutcha arhtias charge cheaper rates. So far as trade is concerned, the district is not so advanced as other districts like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
There
are 22 grain markets ( 5 regulated
markets and 17 Sub-yards ) in the district, where the agricultural commodities are marketed. The regulated markets are located at
Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Phagwara, Bholath and Dhilwan. The sub-yards are located at New Mandi Bholath, Begowal, Nadala, Ramgarh,
Ibrahimwal, Sabzi Mandi Kapurthala, Chara Mandi Kapurthala, Baler Khanpur,
Khalu, Surkhpur, Sabzi mandi Phagwara, Manak Wahad, Ranipur Raputan, Sabzi
Mandi Sultanpur Lodhi, Tibba, Kabirpur and dhalla. Kapurthala and Phgwara are the biggest grain markets where large
quantities of wheat, paddy, maize, gur, etc. are marketed.
(b) Trade Centres
(i) Regulated
and Unregulated Markets:
With a view to saving the
agriculturist from the evils of unhealthy market practices and to ensuring a
fair price for his produce, the State Government enacted the Punjab
Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1939. The Act provides for the regulation of
markets through market committees, which represent growers, commission agents
and trades, local bodies and the State Government. The market committees have
been very useful in the standardization of various market practices and
charges. These enforce the use of standard weights and measures and thus ensure
a fair deal to the agriculturists. There are only three regulated markets in
the district at Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Phagwara.
The
marketing system in all the regulated markets is almost the same. The local
market committees frame rules and regulations for the transaction of food
grains. These rules and regulations are
regarding hours of work, and incidental charges to be collected from the sellers
and the buyers of produce. In the regulated
markets, offers of rates are determined by open auction or through secret
bids. In many cases, the arhtias advance loans to the agriculturists who bring
their produce to their shops for sale.
However, the sellers reserve the right not to sell their produce below a
particular price. The commission agents
charges their commission which includes sundry charges such as commission,
weighing and cleaning charges. The main
commodities for which the transaction usually takes place in the regulated markets
are: wheat, maize, rice, groundnut and potatoes.
(ii) Fairs
( Melas ):
Fairs
and festivals, which mark the religious, social, recreational and seasonal
occasions, are held at various places in the district. At these fairs and festivals, people sell
and purchase sweets, fruit, general merchandize, etc. Thus, some kind of trade takes place. The important fairs and festivals celebrated in the district are
mentioned in Chapter III ‘people’.
Cattle Fairs:
The cattle fairs bring the breeders
and buyers close to each other and hence serve a very useful purpose. The Government charges fee on sale/purchase
of cattle and other animals. These
fairs are, thus, a source of income to the Government. The cattle fairs are held only at Subhanpur,
tehsil Kapurthala, in the district every month excepting April.
(c) Co-operation in
Trade
(i) Co-operative
Marketing:
There is a District Wholesale
Co-operative marketing and Supply Society at Kapurthala. It was registered on 15 November 1957. This society undertakes wholesale business
of Government supplies of agricultural implements, seeds, fertilizers,
insecticides and some other essential goods like oil, sugar, etc. Besides, the following, are the registered
co-operative marketing societies in the district: -
|
|
Name of Society |
Date of Registration |
Working/Defunct |
|
1 |
The Sultanpur Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Sultanpur Lodhi |
17.2.1951 |
Working |
|
2 |
The Phagwara Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Phagwara |
16.4.1956 |
” |
|
3 |
The Kapurthala Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society, Ltd., Kapurthala |
11.12.1957 |
” |
|
4 |
The Nadala Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society, Ltd., Nadala |
31.3.1960 |
” |
|
5 |
The Hargobindgarh Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Hargobindgarh |
7.2.1966 |
” |
|
6 |
The Bassi Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Bassi |
27.9.1957 |
Defunct |
|
7 |
The Pajjian Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Pajjian |
9.12.1953 |
” |
|
8 |
The Grain Dealers Co-operative Marketing-cum-Processing Society Ltd., Association, Kapurthala |
9.11.1948 |
” |
|
9 |
The Grain Dealers Co-operative Association, Sultanpur |
13.4.1947 |
” |
Co-operative marketing has proved very useful in removing the difficulties which the cultivators had to face in selling their produce in the markets. For instance, before the introduction of co-operative-operative marketing the commission agents embarrassed the cultivators in many ways in respect of correct weights, fair rates and prompt payments. Now the marketing societies charge a lower commission. these societies have constructed godowns, in the rural and urban areas, where members are provided with storage facilities. These godowns are much useful in collecting the produce in the villages. Arrangements are made for transportation of produce to the nearest marketing society. The storage charges in these godowns are very nominal. The marketing societies at Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, Phagwara and Bholath also do processing of foodgrains.
The
membership of co-operative marketing societies covers primary societies and
individual members. Besides marketing
agricultural produce, these societies
supply and distribute improved seeds, fertilizers, agricultural implements, insecticides and other consumer
goods, i.e. kerosene, sugar, salt, etc. to the cultivators. The cultivators now receive fair prices of
their produce and are no longer at the mercy of the commission agents.
The work done by the
co-operative marketing societies in the Kapurthala District, during 1976-77 to
1981-82, is shown in Appendix IV on
page 146.