Cottage And Small Scale Industries

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Cottage and Small-Scale Industrie

CHOXXDHRY MUKHTAR SINGH

liONY. SECRETARY, \IGYAN KALA BIJANVAN; DAURALA
I'.X-Ol-.NF.RAt. MANAGER, DAtJflALA SUGAR WORKS, UAURAI.A

this is a detailed survey of the present
position of Cottage and Small-scale Indus-
tries in India. Many valuable suggestions
for development of the existing industries
and possibilities of new ones are dis-
cussed.

K I T A BIST A N

ALLAHAHAD

PRINTED BY J. K. SHARMA AT THE ALLAHABAD LAW JOURNAL
PRESS, ALLAHABAD AND PUBLISHED BY KITABISTAN, ALLAHABAI

PREFACE 5

should, therefore, be to establish only those big
industries which cannot be started on a small scale but
otherwise giving preference to cottage-scale industries.
Let the knowledge, skill and experience be distilled
down to the smallest man of the country so that he
may be able to contribute in the-well being of the
whole nation.

It is in this spirit that this book is conceived and
written. It has taken me long to collect my ideas in a
book form and 1 still believe that mine is simply a small
attempt towards the goal. When better and more
qualified people of the country think on these lines I
shall be amply rewarded in provoking thought on this
important subject. Employment of the greatest number
is the aim of cottage industries and if I have to some
extent succeeded in bringing about this claim I have
done my duty.

My thanks are due to all those friends with whom I
have discussed the subject and who have helped in
formulating my ideas and clarifying the issues. I
have freely drawn on the reports, surveys and published
treatises and the number being pretty large I have
refrained from mentioning their names and acknowledg-
ing them individually. I hope the authors will excuse
me for not doing so.

I wanted this book to be in the hands of the people
long ago but my illness and preoccupations did not allow
it to be finished earlier.

MEERUT, MUKHTAR SINGH

8-4-1946. Hony. Secretary,

Vigyan Kala Bhawan,
D aura la.

CONTENTS

PART I

CHAP. PAGE

I. Cottage and Small-Scale Industry Defined 9

II. Place of Cottage Industry in National

Economy . . . . . . . . 27

III. Advantages and Disadvantages of Cottage

Industries as against Large-Scale In-
dustries . . . . . . . . . . 38

IV. Difficulties and Handicaps . . . . . , 50
V. State and Industries . . . . . . . . 69

VI. Protection of Cottage Industries . . . . 79

VII. Nationalisation of Cottage Industries . . 93

VIII. Organisation . . . . . . . . . . 99

PART II

Description of Existing Industries . . 109

PART III

New Industries . . . , . . 212

PART I

CHAPTER I

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY
DEFINED

The phrase 'cottage industry' has created a bit
of confusion, since it has been defined by different
committee^ differently. Before we proceed further we
feel it necessary that the implications of these words
be well understood. Asjjar as^ we are^^aj^ cottage
industries were first deSned T>y the Industrial Commis-
sion "as industries carried on in the homes of workers,
where the scale of operation is small, and there Jsjbut
little organisation, so that they are, as a rule, ^capable
of supplying only local needs. " It appears that tlie
Industrial Commission, described the conditions as
they then existed, rather than defining the term itself.
We do not think the intention of the Industrial Com-
mission was in any way to restrict the scope of cottage
industries by the above description. Our purpose
in writing this book, on the other hand, is to point out
the possibilities of cottage industries, rather than to
show what they actually are to-day. Our aim is to show
what they should be, and we have not contented our-
selves by showing merely what they are. The U.P.
Industrial Organisation Committee, while discussing
the scope of cottage industries, did not agree with the
above definition when they stated that there were a
number of cottage industries, which even used power
in their working, and further pointed out that some
of those industries were very well organised.^ They
explained cottage industries * jas those in which wotk
is done, generally speaking, in the M^^c <^f artisan^

10 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

/

and occasionally in small factories tun by small indus-
trialists of the entrepreneur type ? power-driven machl-
nery being rarely used/^. The U.P. Committee, there-
fore, extended the^scope inasmuch as they included
those small factories also in which cottage workers were
employed as well as those small establishments in which
power was used. We entirely agree with both these
points, and we visualise that there is no reason why
the use of power-driven machinery should be elimi-
nated, nor why cottage industries should not be effi*
ciently organised. We consider that in the post-war
reconstruction period, electric power will be avail-
able to such an extent that in every village electricity
will be utilised not only for ordinary amenities of life
like light and fans, but small industries will be carried
on with the help of machinery worked by electricity.
If the scientific world has found the use of electricity
to serve humanity, there seems to be no reason why
the cottage worker should be deprived of it.

In Madras, the report on the Survey of Cottage
Industries was published in 1929. The writers of
this report have discussed the scope of cottage indus-
tries. They do "not agree with the definition propound-
ed by the Industrial Commission. They have tried
to show that the production of cottage industries
was never limited to local consumption. While
discussing the definition given by the Industrial Com-
mission they pointed out, "The definition is not com-
prehensive enough as it assumes that the .organisation
is insufficient and that the market is, as a rule, local.
There are cottage industries, the markets for the pro-
ducts of which extend far beyond the locality in which
they are established, examples of which are weaving
of kaUns and woollen pile-carpets, lace and embroi- v
dery industries, etc." Further they tried to define
the phrase themselves as follows, "An alternative
definition was, therefore, suggested by the Depart-
ment of Industries, Madras, in the following terms :

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED II

Industries carried on in the homes of workers as
tinct from those carried on in factories. It was con-
sidered and approved by the Board of Industries con-
stituted under the Madras State Aid to Industries
Act, but Government held that the term should be
taken to refer only to industries carried on exclusively
for the benefit of, and by, workers in their homes and
aqt toTn3ustHes "carried on for the benefit of middle-
men, though the workers happen to work not in fac-
tories, but in their own cottages."

They did not go into the question of the use of
power, which was, perhaps, admitted, as there existed
a number of cottage industries in which not only
power was used, but the Industries Department them-
selves provided tools worked by power.

The question again came before the Committee
constituted in Bombay presided oVer by the well-known
industrialist, Sir Purushottam Das Thakur Das. It was
in their report, for the first time, that a distinction
was made between cottage and small-scale industries,
thereby creating a separate class of small-scale
industries by itself.

The report defines Cottage Industries as follows :

"Cottage industries are industries where no powei
is used and the manufacture is carried on, generally
speaking, in the home of the artisan himself and occa-
sionally in small Karkhanas where not more than 9
workers are employed." They also defined small-
scale industries in the following words :

"By small-scale industries we understand indus-
tries where power is used and where the number of
workers does not exceed 50 and the capital invested
is less than Rs. 30,000."

They further remarked, "We are of the opinion
that the fundamental characteristics of a cottage in-
dustry are (i) the absence of the use of power and
(2) the location of the manufacture in the home of the
cottage worker. From an ideal point of view a thkd

12 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

characteristic should be the ownership of the instruments
of production by the cottage worker himself and a
kind of organisation where the industrial worker will
either be his own master or will belong to a co-operative
organisation."

Unfortunately the definition adopted by this
Committee has created a lot of confusion. The de-
finition of the "Small-Scale Industries' is altogether
an arbitrary one. We do not find anywhere any
reasons as to why the number of workers be restrict-
ed to 50 and capital investment to Rs. 30,000. Simi-
larly we do not see any reason as to why power should
not be used in cottage industries.

The definition given by the above Committee
creates a lot of difficulty in the way of improvement
and development of cottage industries, as also of
small-scale industries. The difference between cottage
Uidmall-scale ij^ustt^ real>

sJjSoT""^t all fundamental."

~~ If smairiQrEEanasrstarted by capitalists in which
workers are employed as labourers, have to be in-
cluded in cottage industries, provided the number of
workmen therein happens to be not more than nine,
there seems to be no reason why their development
should be limited to 50 persons, and to a capital of
Rs. 30,000 only. We entirely agree, however, that
cottage industries should be limited as far as possible
to workers alone, so that the public may have
opportunities to help and patronise such workers.
If Karkhanas are included in cottage industries, the
incentive of helping the small man would altogether
be lost. It is, therefore, a clear mistake to include
small Kharkhanas, run by capitalists in cottage indus-
tries, as also to differentiate between big and small
factories. For these reasons we cannot agree with
either the above definition or the distinction drawn
between cottage and small-scale industries.

A correct definition of 'Cottage Industries' should

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED IJ

only be based on realities of our economic life. In
our view the term Cottage or Home Industry can only
refer to such' industries as can be carried .on .Jin jLfilace
where the workmanjjj^^ P,wa. lanour

or the rFafro^o^

" As a matter of fact this was the first

Conception ofall industries in the beginning. Before
the introduction of machine and the use of power
iaCtories were small establishments and therefore neces-
sarily were cottage or small-scale industries. When
the consumption of industrial commodities became
greater, and more widespread, there sprang up a num-
ber of bigger establishments, where people were em-
ployed, and manufacturers started manufacturing goods
with the help of hired labour. The whole history
of industrial development had three distinct stages :
{i) when a family, or a few workers started
together under a common master to manufacture
articles. This master happened to be a teacher as
well as the owner of that establishment. In some
countries these establishments were formed into
guilds, and laws were promulgated to organise and
control these guilds and their apprenticeship. Artisans
used to employ labourers, pupils or apprentices.

(2) When the requirement of trade went further,
small Karkhanas were jtarted by the dealers, who em-
ploxeSjsti^ for
their own ends. This was the beginning of the factory
system^_If we study' the economic history of England,
weThd that such establishments were opposed at
first both by labourers and artisans w^o were reluctant
to leave their own homes or to sell their liberty for
a mess of pottage. But this objection soon died out.

(3) The third stage begins after this when power was
utilised to run the above small factories. We know
even then there were many strikes, and people went to
the extent of breaking new power machines under the
impression that if their unrestricted use was allowed

14 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

to function, artisans will not only be deprived of their
liberty, but most of them will be thrown out of
employment, as the. work so far done by hundreds
of them would henceforth be done by only a few who
need not be skilled labourers.

The first state clearly gives an idea .of what cottage
industry was like^ and what it should be. Then there
came a time when on the whole continent of Europe
and in the United States of America all small workers
were ousted, and the work of the artisan was taken
away by qualified engineers and chemists, who designed
machinery and processes, so that the ordinary labourer
could, with little training in the handling of machines
or details of processes, be employed to manufacture
most complicated articles.

When Japan entered into the markets of the world,
she brought about a new orientation of manufacture
on a different scale. The Japanese divided the entire
scope of industries into two clear-cut divisions. One
consisted of those industries which could not be done on
a small scale and for which big plants, buildings,
and organised labour was needed. In this type of in-
dustries can be included sugar, cement, paper, heavy
chemicals, fertilisers, manufacture of machinery, mining,
etc. The second consisted of those organisations which
could be worked on a small scale. They studied the
engineering principles adopted in the manufacture of
complicated machinery, and tried to make small but
effective working models, so that the unit of manu-
facture may become simple but at the same time it was
designed to include all those mechanical developments
which were necessary for the success of manufacture and
production of articles at a cheap rate. Processes,
in many cases of small unit, were cut down so that an
article may be finished in different stages, and even at
different places. In order to utilise all that ingenuity
of organisation, they provided education not only in
chemistry and engineering, but also trained worker*

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED I ^

cottage work and worker is respected and there is a
general feeling that it should be helped and patfonised.j
The articles produced by the worker in his own home
by his own labour deserve general support and they
should be popularised throughout the land in order to
ensure even distribution of wealth and to provide em-
ployment for as many people as possible in their own
homes. Any industry, which fulfils this ideal, has all the
characteristics of a cottage industry and can be deemed
as such.

Before trying to formulate a full and comprehensive
definition of cottage industries it is necessary to consi-
der a few points connected with industry, its develop-
ment and organisation and to form our own opinions in
respect thereof. We therefore propose to deal with thei
following points in this connection with a view to get-
ting a clear conception about them to enable us to formu
late a logical definition of the phrase 'Cottage Industry'

(a) Place of starting an industry ,-

(b) Number and type of people employed,

(/) Power, required, i.e., mechanical power or man-
ual power.

(cT) Capital investment,

(0) Distribution of production,

(/) Ownership of establishment,

(g) Inspection and control.

(a) Place of starting an industry. Everybody will
agree that oil pressing by bullock power is a profession
that has continued till to-day in every village. This
is an industry which is followed by oilman in his own
home. His wife and children work along with him.
Similarly, spinning industry, where the ladies of the fami-
ly ply their spinning wheel, comes in this category. The
shoemaker, in his own house, purchasing a small
quantity of leather, with his small tools, carries on shoe
making, and nobody can call it anything else but a cottage
industry. So is the case with the goldsmith, the dyer and
many others who follow their professions in their own

1 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

homes. The very nature of these industries is such that
they can easily be followed within the fotir corners of
their homes. But there are some other industries, which
cannot be easily carried on in cottages wherein the wor-
ker lives. Take the case of tanning of leather. In even
a village, tanning of leather is an offensive trade. It
not only affects the health of the person employed on it,
but it affects the health of all the neighbours living around^
Nobody will like, therefore, to have this industry pifr-
sued in one's cottage, and people should object to its
working in the village itself. The place assigned for
such an offensive trade should be certainly outside the
habitation, and at a sufficient distance from it.
But locating it at a place outside a cottage will
not make it anything but a cottage industry. Simi-
larly, the manufacture of Khandsari sugar, or jag-
gery, in one's own fields is a desirable location, and no-
body will like to call this industry as factory or large-
scale industry, simply because it is not followed in a cot-
tage. The dairy industry, comprising of a number of
cows, may similarly be located in places where better
facilities exist both for fodder and keeping the cattle
in open air. Instances of such industries can be multi-
plied, and it can be shown that the limitation of the indus-
try to the cottage or the house of the worker should not
play an important part in the decision of an industry
as cottage or otherwise. We may consider a particular
industry to be in this category as long as thfe location
is not removed far to another village or a city from
where the skilled worker himself resides.

(b) Number and type of people employed. Though
the number of people employed should be restricted,
but to confine their scope only to the members of the
family may not be quite fair . The right of a few work-
men combining together and starting their own work,
should be recognised as legitimate, and they should
act be debarred from this definition simply because
there happens to be a combination of more than one

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED I J

family. If cottage industries have to be org
such co-operative combinations will have to be en-
couraged. Besides there may be required a few unskil-
led labourers to assist the cottage worker in his work,
Their employment cannot be said to be in any way ex-
ploitation of labour. In the country there will always
remain a number of people who will have to work as
miskilled labourers somewhere or other. Thek em-
ployment is a necessity specially in the type of agricul-
tural industries, such as jaggery, Khandsari, tobacco
curing, starch and the like.

Further in case of organising a Karkhana, wherein
cottage workers are employed either to work on daily ot
monthly wages, or on piece work, or are allowed to wotk
for the Karkhanedars in their own cottages, the position
is different. Although we may wish that the organisers
of such Karkhanas should not have the same sympathy
from the public as the cottage worker himself, as the
Karkhanedar exploits the worker for his own purpose, yet
by force of circumstances we cannot leave out this type of
organisation from the scope of help and encouragement
both from the public and the Government. There may be
some legislative action necessary to control and organise
labour, wages, time of work, payment, etc., but on the
whole such Karkhanedars must be considered on a better
level, from the point of view of employment, than large-
scale industries. Some distinction, however, still seems to
be necessary between the work done by a cottage worker
himself, and by the Karkhanedar who employs the cottage
worker. In order to maintain this distinction, we have
decided to keep such Karkhanas as a unit separate
from that of cottage industries, and have included
them as a small-scale industry. We visualise that there
will soon come a time when this distinction will be ex-
tended and the place of cottage industries will be far
more clearly established than what it is to-day.

(i) Use of power. The question of powet is a
knotty one. It is legitimate to say that all the knowledge

20 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

and facilities evolved by the scientific world, whether
they may be of mechanical or chemical nature, must be
made available for the development of cottage industries,
as well as for large-scale industries. But if we once
decide, as the Bombay Report adverted to above has
tried to do, that power should not be allowed to be used
by cottage industries, we at once debar the cottage worker
from making use of power evolved by the scientists fo<
the benefit of all. Certainly the use of power may be
a bad thing if it throws a number of workers out of their
existing employment; but if it creates a facility of manu-
facture, or a better product, which could not otherwise
be made, power should be welcome to every cottage
worker. If everybody concedes that the chemical
knowledge, or improvement in processes should be
availed of by the cottage worker, and the government
should help the artisan with expert knowledge on this
point, why then the use of power should be denied.
We, do not see any reason as to why this should
be so. Everybody agrees that the use of better tools
is a necessity to improve production and if that is so,
new tools or complicated machinery will have to be
utilised by the cottage worker, and in most of
the cases they may not be worked by manual labour at
all. Electricity is a boon to humanity and, when India
reaches a stage, where electricity would be easily avail-
able at cheap rates in the villages, it should certainly be
utilised by the cottage worker as well. The Khandsari
industry, for instance, with a small motor and centri-
fogal, will be far better worked than it is done by
manual labour to-day.

It is true that when you allow the use of power
in cottages you have to be very careful, either, in making
the use of power, as it is done in Japan by reducing the
voltage of electricity to no instead of 400, or you have
to guard against accidents. Both these are things which
can easily be managed and if need be, as in Japan, ins-
pection, control and rules for using power may be framed

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED 21

for a cottage worker also. We have no dispute over
that point. But to ask a cottage worker not to take to
power is an absurd suggestion, and perhaps seals the
fate of future development of their work for all times
to come. We do not consider that the writers of the
Bombay Report meant it seriously when they made
that distinction. But perhaps they thought that since
.^ey have propounded the necessity of helping the small-
scale industries, there will be no injury done to the cottage
worker if he employs power-driven machinery, as the
cottage industry will in that case come under the de-
finition of small-scale industries. Indirectly, however,
it has unfortunately created a great mischief. As soon
as you call any industry, where power is used, a small-scale
industry, you at once take away the sympathy of the
people, who want to help the artisan working in his own
way and producing commodities. There cannot be two
opinions on the point that a cottage worker requires help
and patronage from every member of the nation. This
is the greatest injury that is likely to be done if we dis-
tinguish the cottage industry from a small-scale indus-
try on this score. We have, therefore, tried to use both
these words as synonyms as long as the restrictions that
we have placed in our definition hold good in their case.
(d} Capital investment, The amount of money to
be invested in an industry will depend upon the amount
needed to carry on the manufacture of an article. If
the raw material is costly, if the cost of machinery
and equipment is expensive, or if the articles prepared
are not likely to be sold out soon, a greater invest-
ment will certainly be needed. A petty goldsmith
certainly requires much more investment than a car-
penter. A jeweller, who cuts precious stones, turns
them into artistic ornaments, will have to make more
investment than anybody else. So will be the case
of a person who produced silverwares. In the case
of a person making platinum crucibles the invest-
ment may naturally be larger. A silk sari weaver

22 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

with gold thread may have to spend a few hundred
tupees on one piece of cloth. Thus the readers will
sec that we cannot restrict the question of investment
to a fixed maximum figure.

There has been an attempt practically in every
province to organise the cottage workers in a co-opera-
tive society, and if this organisation goes on, either
as on the basis of limited or unlimited liability, tb^
amount of capital involved will go on increasing,
and we cannot put a maximum limit over these con-
cerns against the companies, which are sponsored
by share-holders every day.

(e) Distribution of production. Since the times im-
memorial, very nice articles have been made and ex-
ported, even when the use of machinery was unknown.
Dacca muslins, for instance, were exported through-
out the continent in the i6th and iyth centuries. They
were certainly prepared in cottages, and formed the
mainstay of cottage industry. Even to-day there are
places noted for brasswares, curios, prints, and the
like, and their produce is not only distributed through-
out the country, but is also exported to foreign coun-
tries. All these industries are very well known cot-
tage industries.

Mahatma Gandhi has placed a new orientation
of cottage industries, for which he has pointed out
the ideal of self-sufficiency. It may be generally
correct, but if we make a fetish . or self-sufficiency,
the ideal may be wrong. The All India Spinners'
Association has tackled the

the TnipSSfactiore oF^woolIen ~~ cloth ~ln Kashmir,
but most of the goods prepared are sold far beyond
the locality. Will that mean that woollen industry
is not a cottage industry ? To restrict the distribution
of produce to a certain locality is not quite correct.
It must be admitted that most of the production of
the cottage worker, taken as a whole, will generally
be consumed round about the centre of production;

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED 2}

but there may be a number of articles which cannot
be consumed at the place where they are produced,
either because the centre has a special facility for the
raw material, or skill has developed for centuries at
a certain place for the production of certain articles,
or there may be certain other natural advantages in
establishing an industry at a certain locality. But
t^je very criterion of confining an industry to a certain
locality, as far as the distribution of the finished pro-
ducts is concerned, cannot be considered to be a limit-
ing factor. If we circumscribe, our definition to this
ideal, we are afraid most oFthe cottage industries will
have to disappear. The art of paper-making cannot
be practised everywhere, but paper is transported from
one place to another. Jaggery, a well-known cottage
industry run in the U.P., finds its sale throughout
Gujrat, Punjab and other distant places.

By the phrase 'self-sufficiency' Mahatma Gandhi
rightly considers that the exploitation of the consumers
as well as that of the labourers must be avoided. As
long as labourers or consumers are not exploited,
cottage industry can distribute its products not only
in India, but outside it. Take the case of gut making.'
Gut is a commoclity which has special advantages for
its production in India. If it is exported to foreign
countries, where it cannot be cheaply produced, it will
certainly be an advantage both to the consumer, as
^vell as to the producer. Similar may be the case of
tanned hides and skins.

(/) Ownership of establishment. This is certainly
a very important factor in deciding the question of
cottage industry. If an establishment is owned by
a capitalist, who uses his money for the purpose of
exploiting the workers for his own advantages, we
would not call it a cottage industry. As long as, on the
other hand, the ownership rests in the worker him-
self, or a combination of them, we shall call it cottage
industrv. The main criterion will always be whether

24 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

a worker has lost his liberty in the establishment or
not; whether the benefit of trade goes to the worker
ultimately, or it remains in the hands of the middle-
man who does nothing else but exploits the workers
for his own benefit.

(g) Inspection and control. As we have already staled
that will depend upon the stage of development of
industries themselves. If they are likely to become
dangerous to humanity, they have to be controlled.
It is in the common interest that even a cottage worker
should not endanger himself in his own workshop.
The lines upon which these rules will be framed will
differ according to the conditions, which will prevail
in each of these industries.

~'~Taking all the above factors into consideration
we can now define 'cottage industry* as follows :

All industries, which are worked by the owners
themselves with the help of their dependents (wife,
children and relations) with a few labourers, the total
number not exceeding nine, are cottage industries, pro-
vided they are worked in the home of the cottage worker
or in some other place in the same locality. The em-
ployment of mechanical power or their organisation
pn the basis of limited or unlimited liability will not
Exclude them from this category.

*StnaU*scale industry* means all Karkhanas which
may or may not be factories under the Factories* Act
ana wherein the artisan and skilled workers are em*
ployed by the Karkhanedar for his own benefit. While
doing so we have limited the small-scale industry to
nine persons, and have excluded all those establish-
ments which fall under the term 'factory* as defined
by Factories* Act. This has to be done as we* feel
tjaat a factory which employs power and jo men, can*
not be said to be a small-scale industry. Those estab-
lishments in Japan where more people than nine,
bfct say upto jo, are employed are known as medium-
scale industries, and. Derhaos this is a correct nhrase

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY DEFINED Z}

for such factories. We further do not agree that the
limit of Rs. 30,000 should be placed upon such indus-
,tries. Small-scale as well as medium-scale industries
are likely to employ much more capital than Rs, 30,000
in certain cases, while in others tnis amount may fall
short considerably. The question of capital, as we
have stated elsewhere, does not seem to be an impor-
t^tit factor in classifying a factory as a cottage, small
or medium-scale industry.

In the above definition of cottage industry we
have certainly included all those industries which
en^ploy mechanical power, and we strongly feel that
it is unjust not to allow the cottage worker the use
of machinery and power. All these inventions are
daily increasing and new knowledge and experience
is daily being acquired. There is no sense in debarring
the cottage worker from utilising these discoveries
and inventions. Rather we feel that we must provide
the cottage worker both with improved tools and
machinery as well as power generated either by electri-
city or by some other means. It may be admitted
that the water-driven flour mills in the hilly parts of the
country have always been recognised to fee so. Why
then people using electricity or a small diesel engine
in other industries should be debarred from this ad-
vantage. >k

Co-operative Societies have done very little useful
work as we have pointed out elsewhere. But the
main drawback to thek success has been that the
best workers do not want to join as they cannot
accept unlimited liability. Co-operative Societies
have recognised the principle of limited liability. But
unfortunately they have, in very few cases, extended
this privilege to the organisation of cottage or small-*
scale industries. We wish that this principle should
be 30 extended. There may be cases in which t$$
co-operative societies may not be formed or the officers
of the department may not think it worth while to do

l6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

so. 10 both the cases the ordinary companies* law
should be available to the cottage worker, as it is avail-
able to every two persons who care to form themselves
into a limited private company. Even now there
is no bar for anjr two cottage workers to combine
into a limited private company or take more people
with them, and to get themselves recognised as a limit-
ed concern under the companies' law. We have
purposely included such cases under our definition,
as we want to point out that if such a privilege is ex-
tended to cottage workers, and they are apprised of its
utility, these people will be better organised, and their
work will be smoother, and their financial liabilities will
be overcome to a very great extent. Further they
will have a better status created by such an organisation.
We visualise that all small Karkhanas sooner or
later will be absorbed in co-operative organisations
and then the objection of exploitation of skilled labour
will cease to exist. This J[s jwhy $re have used both
the words cottage and small-scale industry as synonyms
in this booklet.

CHAPTER II

PLACE OF COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN
NATIONAL ECONOMY

There is a large number of people who seem to
believe that if we make improvements in agriculture
we can raise the standard of the masses. According
to them economic betterment of the people depends
entirely on improvement in agriculture. This is the
most fallacious argument. It is advanced by those?
who like to keep us 'hewers of wood and drawers of \
water* for ever./

In 'Rural India 1 we have tried to prove the futility
of such arguments.

/Before we make a fresh attempt to prove that the
above argument is fallacious we must state a few funda-
mentals well known to the economists. The first
and the foremost fundamental fact of economics is
that agriculture is always the least paying industry.
Any country, therefore, whose population mainly
depends upon agriculture must always remain poor*
Even in the United States of America where holdings
ate generally over 199 acres, where cash crops ate
mostly grown and many people live on fruits, vege-
table, and dairy fanning, the peasant's income is i&uc
less than that of the industrialist, not to say of India
where holdings are very small, where cash crops ate
only few and the farmers are generally illiterate.

The second fundamental is that 20 acres is con-
sidered to be the smallest area which can keep a farmer
10 comfortable circiim5tanctff < This is the standatd
fixed by countries where produce par acre is far higher
than 0u|B

28 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCAUB INDUSTRIES

The total cultivated area in British India in 1940-41
was 25,94 69,448 acres while the total rural population
happens to be z)z>zzjj which gives only one acre
per head. If we take an average of a family of 5
persons the average holding comes to only 5 acres.
If we take away oig holdings out of the above *area,
the figure of per capita area will be very much reduced.
If we take into consideration the small area whiqh
has irrigation facilities, the area which is every year
flooded and also the area which has to be cultivated
in the hope that something may g*ow we shall be at
once convinced that this area can never be sufficient
to give a comfortable living to the people. Add to
the above difficulties, the failure of crops due to insect
and other climatic causes.

If we look to the figures of the density of popu-
lation we shall at once be convinced that the cultivated
area in the country is so small that it is quite insuffi-
cient to keep the body and soul of the people together.
Below we give the density of population in different
provinces.

COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN NATIONAL ECONOMT

Dmsityof
trwint* Population
fir $q* mik

Maximum &*sity

intb*
district

D***ity

Madras

59*

Malabar

679

Bombay

7*

Surat

57*

Bengal

779 *

Bardwan Division

7 ig

Hoogly

Ii 4

*%

24 Pargnnas

957

Faridpur

1048

Tippra

ijaj

Noakhali

*337

United Provinces . .

518

Meerui Division

619

MecruT

816

Benares

1114

Punjab

287

Gorakhpur
Jullundhar

876
845

Sialkot

755

Bchar

5*1

Saran

1072

Muzaflarpur

1072

Darbhanga

1053

Central Provinces
Assam

170
186

Jubbulpur
Burma VaUcy

*M

JOO

N.-W. F. P.

**3

Mar dan

55

Orissa

*7*

Cuttack

556

Ajmer Merwara

*45

Sindh

94

Larkana

'79

In the above table we have avoided to give the
densities of districts in which big cities like Calcutta
and Bombay may show a far higher density.

With little arrangement for irrigation and practi-|
caily no protection from floods and climatic vagaries
is it at all possible to raise the standard of the people
by improving agriculture? Suppose for a momenij
all die scientific resources are made available and people
are made literate to make use of these improvements
and all the holdings are consolidated, cultivators be-
come the owner of their holdings and they are absolved
from all debts, can any expert promise them a com-
fortable living from such a small piece of land ? We

JO COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

strongly fed that we cannot support such a huge popu-
lation on land. Why then labour under a false hope ?
The only solution is to divert a large number of people
from land to some other occupation. Let us face
tite fact and therein lies the future planning of our
country. We do not in any way deprecate efforts
for agricultural improvement but the relief given
thereby will always be small and limited.

/In order to know the economic position of tHe
country we generally consider the cost of cultivation
and the income from the produce and if cutivator's
income happens to be more than his cost we consider
the producer to be prosperous. This is a wrong
approach to the problem. The income of the culti-
vator consists of the sale of the commodities only, and
so if the net income is not enough to meet his essential
needs, the producer must lead a miserable life howso-
ever high nis profits may seem to be. If the total
income from the sale of his produce comes to Rs. 500
a year and his cost happens to be Rs. 200 he appears
to make a profit of 50 per cent on his cost, but if Rs. 100
axe not enough for meeting the bare necessities of his
life he cannot be happy. Considering from this point
of view, the shy of the holding becomes a very impor-
tant factor to his prosperity. If the holdings are ex-
tremely small in area, the holder will never be able
to support himself whatever the price of his commo-
dities.

The case of the landless labourer is worse still
as he has no definite income and the agricultural work
bong of a seasonal character he cannot remain em*
ployed during the whole of the Year. For the days
he finds no work he must starve/

The above line of argument explains as to whv
30% of the population in India goes without food.
Most of the people, especially thc'officials, did not
believe these figures tt first but since the time the
started rationing, the weakness of the

COTTAGE INDUSTRY IK NATIONAL ECONOMY JI

position has become apparent and the Bengal famine,
specially wherein above 2 million people dica of starva-
tion has confirmed the conclusion. More than 70%
of the total population of India is dependent upoc
agriculture, be they the actual cultivators or labourers.
The position of the other 50% may be free from anxiety
as they are either engaged in industry or in services*
But even amongst this proportion there are many
small cottage producers who are struggling against
odds to get their living.

We calculate that the total cultivated area in our
country can hardly support half the population living
on land to-day and therefore 35% of die total popu-
lation must be provided elsewhere if we want to raise
the standard of the common man. A question arises,
therefore, as to how to provide this vast population
of 13.5 crorcs. This will be a population more than
that of England or even that of United States of America.

It is further suggested that if new big concerns
are started we shall be able to provide the masses with
sufficient work and shall be able to give them a living
wage. The well-known Bombay Planners are the
protagonists of big industries ana with all their ima-
gination and with all the astronomical figures involved
in their calculations they have only been able to say
that after 15 years of planning the population will
be distributed as follows :

Qftxpdtional Distribution in 193 i and 1961

1931 196*

Millions % Wiltons %

Agriculture 106.5 7* 1*9.7 5*

Industry i*-i 15 J7-9 *&

Services 19,* ij $4*7 * 6

Total Working population .. 147-* *<* ***! o*

Total population . . . . ,. 33 s - 1 494* *

Page 9 part EL

32 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

It looks very attractive when the Bombay Plan-
ners give us the happy news that in 1962 the percent-
age of population living on land will be reduced from,
72% to 58% only while the people living on industry
will increase from 15 to 26% but when we reduce the
percentages to actual numbers as the planner^ have
themselves done the position at once becomes dismal
and disappointing. According to their own calcula-
tions there were 10 crores of people living on land in
1951, which will in 1962 increase to 12 crores, i.e.,
the number of people which according to them will
have to be supported by land will increase by 20%.
Even assuming an increase in production the cost of
producing this increase will also increase under the
well-known principle of diminishing returns and thus
very little surplus will be really available to raise the
standard of the people. The increase in area of course
will always remain negligible and we should not be
surprised if this area may decrease by giving up those
tracts from cultivation which may not be economical
to plough any more. The Bombay Planners envisage
a minimum wage of labour and if that is assured, the
cost of cultivation will go higher and in this way the
margin of profit for the producer will be further
curtailed. It, on the other hand, agriculturists try to
curtail the labour cost by employing less people the
number of people thrown out of employment will
considerably increase. Add to this another factor
which they themselves * have suggested. If co-opera-
tive farming is introduced many small holders will
have to leave their job and take to something else.
As a matter of fact, the bigger the farms the lesser the
number of people employed per acre. In this way
though the margin of profit per acre may increase
the employment will decrease. The above factors
do not seem to have been taken into consideration by
the Bombay Planners* If the present number of able*
bodied persons cannot be supported by land now how

COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN NATIONAL ECONOMY 33

can 20% more be supported by agriculture twenty
years after? This we fail to understand* We, how-
ever, want to point out that we are not against improve-
ment in agriculture but we want to warn our readers
that this will not solve the problem, and we must find
out the solution elsewhere,

We can, therefore, safely conclude that as regards
employment the ' Bombay Planners give hardly any
satisfactory reply* Industrialisation, as understood
by the Bombay Planners, i.e., the introduction of large-
scale industries is not the solution of the problem.
It may put more money in the pocket of the indus-
trialists or may support a bit more population by indus-
tries but it is not likely to give sufficient relief either to
the agriculturists or to the landless labourers. r {

Perhaps, it may be suggested that_doft%nay lie
created for the unemployed. That can"only be done
for the bonafide industrial labour. Wholesale pro-
vision for the unemployed as such is never possible
for crores of people who will be only partially
employed.

Mahatma Gandhi has tried to give a solution of
the problem by village economy planning. Accord-
ing to him, if village self-sufficient economy is revert-
ed to everybody may be provided though the standard
of living may not be high. We entirely agree both
with the sentiments and the arguments expressed in
the Gandhian Plan but we are sorry to say that we
cannot subscribe to the doctrine of self-sufficiency
of the villages. The world is changing fast and in
this mechanical age no village can be made self-suffi-
Qfittt- It would have been different when wants were
few and the living of the people was simple but to-day
the villages do not possess all the raw material needed
for the manufacture of articles required to supply the
ordinary daily needs of the people- If you want to
utilise cars and buses for transport, if you want to use
aeroplanes to attend the Congress sessions, you wtO

34 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

have to manufacture all these things in big factories
and certainly not in villages. For good or evil big
industries have come to stay and some of the articles
cannot be manufactured on a small scale. However,
we agree that barring those things which cannot be
manufactured on a small scale, other articles should
be manufactured in cottages and in the smallest eco-
nomic units possible. When the author of the Gandhi-
an Plan has quoted chapters and verses from different
countries, specially from Japan, the author seems to
have admitted that our wants will increase and we
should not hesitate to take use of the machines and
contrivances whereby production may become cheap
and varied. The quotation given from Indusco supports
the same idea, while we fully agree with the intro-
duction of cottage industries we advocate the use of
machines and power and also the distribution of produce
over a bigger area than the village itself. In certain
cases articles in a province may have to be exported
to another province and, mind you, our provinces
are, in certain cases, far bigger than some of the countries
in Europe. We should not fight shy of the use of the
scientific discoveries and machines which have changed
the method of production considerably and have
revolutionised the village organisation altogether. We
have suffered enough for our orthodoxy and we feel
the time has come when we should change, adopt and
assimilate what is best in scientific methods. The
method of production in Japan and now followed,
during the war, by China, must be an eye-opener to
us. To harp upon everything old will ruin us still
further.

We are sorry to say that though the Bombay
Planners have recognised the importance of cottage
industries and small industries they do not seem to
have given their blessings to this very important past
of development. They seem to be enamoured of mass
production and they have disregarded the salutary

COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN NATIONAL ECONOMY JJ

maxim of 'production for the masses and by the masses'*
If they would have done so they would have been con-
fronted with the logical methoa of protection of small
industries against big industries which in the fitness
of things they could not have advocated.

In the definition of cottage industry we have
tried to dispel the idea that cottage industries do not
mean only die arts and crafts of ordinary type, but they
may include industries in which more capital, power
ana machinery may be used. That being so we want
to point out that the scope of cottage industries will
be sufficiently wider. We want to impress upon our
readers that even at the existing scale cottage indus-
tries are far more important than big industries. The
number of people employed in them has been cal-
culated by Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao. According to him the
number of all the persons employed in large-scale in-
dustries comes to only 14,82,000 while the number of
workers employed in cottage industries amounts to
61,41 ooo which is more than 4 times that of the former*

According to the Report of the Fact Finding
Committee total number or persons depending upon
Handloom Industry amounts to 10 millions, out of
which 10 lacs are actually employed. Handloom
Industry produces zj% to 30% of the total cloth
consumed and employs 85% of the total Textile
Workers, while the Mill Industry employs only ij% o
the total Textile Workers and produces 70% to 75%
of the total cloth consumed. It clearly proves that if
the Handloom Industry is replaced by Mill Industry
onlv5%more people will be employed while 80%
will be thrown out. On the other hand if the process
is reversed and Weaving Department of the Mills be
dosed down employment for more than zo million*
people will be available*

In spite of the fact that cottage industry has to*
struggle both against big factories and imports from*
foreign countries, the artisans in villages have

j6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

not been replaced. Weavers have doggedly held
their own and still their production is not at all a mean
figure. Leather tanning, basket making, Khandsaris,
oil pressing, basket and mat making etc., are still in-
dustries which give living to a very considerable
number of people. ^

We can state without hesitation that in a country
whose density of population is large, cottage indus-
tries are the only means of giving employment to raise
the standard of the people. Mass production in coun-
tries like England, Germany and U.S.A., started as
they had very small population and the developed
export markets. We cannot have an export market
at least for a number of years; nor we can afford to
find large amounts of capital necessary to establish
big factories. We certainly have our own big market
but this will not be enough to keep big factories run-
ning. In a poor country you cannot sell much. We
have a very large population. Our transport is ill-
arranged, literacy and skill is wanting and every day
the population is increasing. In such a country the only
metnod of employing such a huge population is the
introduction ot cottage or small-scale industries. We
will have to follow the footsteps of Japan in the em-
ployment of our people. We have to earmark big
factories only for the production of those things which
cannot be manufactured on a small scale and without
which we cannot supply the need of the country. Cot-
tage industries must be the rule and big industries the
exception. Wherever a particular operation is of
such a nature that it cannot be done on a small scale,
the big industry should only perform that part of the
work and no more. To say that cottage industries
should be complementary to big industries is an entirely
wrong notion. Unless we aim at cottage industries
as out first target and big industries as our second
target we shall not be able to employ such a huge
population*

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES IN NATIONAL ECONOMY 37

The Bombay Planners have themselves admitted
that the agriculturists have to remain idle for a suffi-
ciently long period of the year. If we cannot find
suitable employment for these people during their
vacant time, wherefrom their income may be raised,
we cannot improve their standard of living. Such
a part-time occupation can only be supplied by cottage
industries and never by large-scale industries.

We conclude, therefore, with the remark that
the salvation of our country lies in the development
of cottage and small scale industries and nothing else.
This is our only hope and the only solution of our
economic ills.

CHAPTER III

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AS

AGAINST LARGE-SCALE

INDUSTRIES

There is a general belief that articles produced
on a large scale are always cheaper. It is not quite
correct. In this chapter we shall try to show the
merits and demerits ot cottage and small-scale indus-
tries so that the readers may themselves decide what
type of industry is suited for a certain set of circum-
stances.

Before we enumerate the advantages of cottage
industries we should first make it clear as to what do
we mean by cheapness. In considering the price of
an article we should always tajce the price at which it
is available to the consumer X The cost of production
of an article may~Be aulte low but when it reaches
the consumer the article may become very expensive.
There are a number of weeds useful in medicine which
you can have merely for the asking from a forest
or from the fields but if you want to purchase them
from some shop you will have to pay very high price
for the same. The reason is not far to seek. The
seller will have to get it collected at some cost and
then will have to stock it safely till the time of sale*
Besides this if the article has very little sale it will
occupy space unnecessarily and the shopkeeper will
have to incur expenses on that score. The lesser the sale
of an article, the higher will be its price. If an article
is brought for sale from an outside market, the seller

have to incur all the expenses of handling, packing,

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND LARGE-SCAUE INDUSTRIES 39

transport and octroi or other taxes before the article
is available for sale. Sometimes ail these factors are
not taken into account before an idea is formed of the
cheapness of an article. We hope the readers will
have all these points before their mind while consider-
ing the merits or demerits of articles manufactured
on a cottage scale.

We now enumerate the main advantages of the
cottage industries :

(1) Small capital required A cottage industry can
be started with a small capital and this, it will be agreed,
is the main advantage of tne system of production known
as cottage industry. To start a factory large amount
of capital is needed whether all that amount is invest-
ed by one man or is subscribed in the form of shares
by many. A cottage worker, on the other hand, re-
quires a small place to start his work, only a set ol
simple tools and very little raw material! and has tc
keep only a small investment locked up in firushec
goods. A carpenter, a smith or a weaver can start
nis job with a small investment while a factory re-
quires a big building and a large machinery and equip-
ment to start with. In days of depression a cotta^
worker has to lose very little wTuITirKctpry or big,
concern has to lose a lot in the form of interest on
money invested as well as by way of depreciation of
plant and building.

(2) Variety of desigps Perhaps one of the greatcs
advantage an small-scale industries is that the workei
can apply his skill to each individual piece and thin
can create any number of designs. It costs him nothing
extra if every piece he produces has its own design
For a machine it is very difficult to change fron
one design to another without incurring heavy ex
pense. For example, take the case of prints. If a
printer has got some skill he can print his doth with,
any number of designs bj simply changing his stenciL
If he ues a card board tor stencil it costs him only &

40 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

little labour and time, which he has in plenty. In
case of wooden stencil too the price of the new stencil
will be vety little in comparison to the extra price
he can get for his new piece. On the other hand, the
cost of a copper plate or copper stencil will be suffi-
ciently high and will not pay the manufacturer unless
thousands of yards are printed in that design. This
is one of the main reasons why printed cloth made in
cottage in India has not only a wide sale in this country
but is also in demand in the whole world. If cloth
printing had been properly organised, we are sure,
it would have become an important cottage industry
of the country. The same may be said of the coat-
ings, saris etc., and so with the utensils and other articles.
Of course from that point of view the worker should
either have an artistic outlook himself or may take the
help of an artist. ^

', (3)* Local market Generally the cottage worker
caters for local needs only and he is, therefore, in a
position to know the taste of the consumer and thus
cater for his demands. iThe close contact between
ithc consumer and the producer always pays in business-
If a certain article has gone out of fashion he can take
to producing another. Under such circumstances
the manufacturer has not to rely upon his ingenuity
alone but he can easily have a talk with his intelligent
consumers face to face. \He can prepare articles
according to the taste of his consumers and can make
necessary improvements in them| Such a manu-
facturer can easily understand the taste and the require*
meats of his consumers and can easily comply with
them. As regards big factories though the psychology of
the consumer is studied by their organisers yet generally
the consumer is asked to take to the articles manufactured,
It is true that the knowledge and the experience of the
organiser of a big industry ate far greater than those of
the cottage industry worker but the former cannot afford
to have a lace to face talk with the consumer an<J thus is

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES 4!

not in a position to know his requirements and likings.
Exporting countries employ travellers who go
about and study the taste of different markets but they
are poor substitutes for the first-hand information
available to the small man. The knowledge of the
traveller, in the first instance, takes time to reach the
manufacturer and then it again takes time to adjust the
manufacturing process. Besides it is not the same
thing as direct approach to the consumer. Of course
the cottage worker who caters for outside markets
has the same disadvantage as the big manufacturer,

(4) Cost of marketing Small man has not to incur
the heavy charges of export nor has he to take the risk
of damage in transport. He has not to pay insurance
charges to cover these risks nor has he to find a chain
of dealers in that commodity. \^The customs duty and
other charges in different localities generally differ and
the big manufacturer has to keep a record of different
methods in vogue at different places^ Though the
cost of producing an article on a small scale may some-
times be high but it is generally compensated by low
expenses with which it can be placed in the market.

(5) Overhead TheAiall man is his own labourer and
manufacturer while in the case of a big concern an
article has to pass into many hands before it finally
reaches the consumers* Very expensive staff has to
be appointed to look after its organisation. In most
cases organisation expenses known as 'overhead* con*
stitutc a big percentage of the enure cost of manufacture.
If the work is not properly organised a paying business
may easily turn into a losing concern.

Small man being his own master looks after his
own job. His supervision charges are nil.

(6) Destruction in case of emergency The present
War has shown that big establishments can be easily
destroyed and the whole economy of a country dis-
turbed by concentrated bombarding of a few locali-
ties only. This has become an excellent device to

42 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

paralyse the enemy. China has been able to fight
against Japan for a number of years before any help
reached from outside. This would not have beerr
possible had China depended upon big factories alone.
China changed her manufacturing places very quickly and
at a very little expense. As a matter of fact China was
teaching to its population the organisation and manu-
facture of small articles even during her war with Japan.
Through this very method of production she evolved
to supply the necessities of her army and people. To
fight a well-equipped enemy, who possessed up-to-date
weapons of destruction was a very difficult job but all
that has been successfully done because most of the
things needed were done on such a small scale that
factories could be changed overnight from one place
to toother.

War is just over and the countries have not yet
got enough time to settle down but we are sure, the
wonderful resistance of China, which was only possible
due to small-scale manufacture, will be calmly studied
by the nations and in the light of this experiment many
big-scale industries may have to be replaced by small
ones. The Indusco arrangement of China has startled
the world and has proved the superiority of the eco-
s nomics of small-scale manufacture.

Aeroplane bombing can do very little damage to
small-scale industries as it can only damage a small
unit. To take industrial factories underground may
not be easy, besides its shifting may be very costly.
To destroy an industry scattered in small units over a
large area is not an easy job, while a big factory con*
centrated in a small area can be bombed and disabled.

(7) Resistance against loss Though it is generally
believed that a penniless man cannot resist the risk of
loss against a big organised manufacturer but it is not
really so. No article can be sold at a lower price than
the cost of raw material from which it is made. The
loss is, therefore, what the labour and overhead charges

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES 4)

cost to the manufacture. A small-scale manufacture!
can lower his labour charges and thus even in times
of difficulty can continue his profession, as he incuts
no overhead expenses while the manufacturer on a big
scale cannot afford to exhaust his capital and ruin him-
self. His labour has to be paid and perhaps will have
to be paid at the same rate. Factory labour generally
prefers to go out of employment than accept a low
salary during the period of depression.

Is it not very striking that all the weaving mills
together have not been able to wipe off the weaver ?
He is still in that job and we do not think he will be
ousted up to the time he is not offered a more attractive
or more paying work. It is true that his earnings
have considerably dwindled and his standard of living
has gone down but all the same he has doggedly persisted
and has succeeded in remaining at his place. He would
have fared far better if he would not have depended
for his raw material (yarn) on his competitor*

Though no outside help, as is generally given
by legislature in the shape of tariff, railway freight,
etc., has been accorded to the small man yet he has
held his own. If similar help had been given to him,
his condition would have been far better.

(8) Independence Man is not only an economic
entity but he is a living organism. He is not governed
by money alone. Sentiment also plays quite a big
part in his life. Compare the labourer of the factory
with the cottage manufacturer. The factory labourer
leaves his home, has to come to the factory, works
incessantly for eight hours, has to bear the rebukes
of his supervisors and has to put in a very hard work
of a boring nature. After his work is finished he has
to arrange for his scanty food and has to live in a
crowded slum. He may get a higher income than the
cottage worker but income is not all. The latter is
the master of himself, he can work, stop it if he likes,
enjoy hcjme life at pleasure and can meet his friends

44 COTTAGE AND SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES

as and when they come. The word 'independence' has
a real meaning for him. The low wage that he earns
is really the price of this freedom. Are not a few*
coppers a low price indeed for one's independence?
Many will not sell it and obstinately persist to preserve
it. This is one of the main reasons for the survival
of cottage workers.

M National life enriched It is regretted that the
benefit to national character provided for by small-
scale industry has altogether been ignored. Very
rich and very poor people always exist side by side,
similarly idiots and intelligent giants but they are en-
riched when the standard of small man is raised. A
great injury to the national cause has been inflicted
by factory system in this respect. What is a labourer
one who carries out the behest of the master or super-
visor without thinking for himself. He has no ini-
tiative and no imagination. He does not develop
his artistic or creative faculties nor he is interested
in making any improvement in his task. As a matter
of fact he can do nothing as the work is done by machine
about which he understands so little. He has to pass
through a mill of drudgery which leaves him exhausted
and fatigued. After strenuous work of eight hours
he tries to find enjoyment outside and without finding
any he takes to drink and other such bad habits which
makes the nation still poorer. In other countries
the evil was realised long ago and continuation schools,
culture centres, etc., were started to develop human
faculties but it is admitted that these are poor sub-
stitutes for the natural aptitude which used to be ex*
messed by the workers through their manufacture.
The condition in India is just the same as it was when
the machine age started in England, In India in in-
dustrial concerns welfare work and cultural develop-
ment arc missing and we recruit labour without eating
10 the least for the intellectual development of labour.
If in foreign countries the welfare works are not con-

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES 4 5

sidered up to the mark, conditions in India must be
considered to be still worse.

Whatever arrangement be made all such arrange-
ments will remain poor substitutes for the self-attained
development that a cottage manufacturer provides for
himselt during the course of his job.

^(10) No loss in strikes and lockouts Strikes and
lockouts are of daily occurrence in big factories. Huge
losses are suffered thereby and naturally all these losses
have to be utlimately paid for by the consumer. In
the case of small manufacturer there is hardly any labour
employed and so no question of strike arises. The re-
gular struggle for getting better facilities and earning
a higher wage are the daily features of the big scale
organisations and they have nowhere disappeared in
the world. Labour is asserting itself more and more
every day and the labour government which is in
power in England at present points out the direction in
which the wind is blowing. Labourers and their leaders
believe in the nationalisation of big industries
which simply means that labour should be its own
master a condition which always exists in small-scale
industries. With the labour unrest on one side and
the atomic bomb on the other the world seems to be
reverting to the old days of small industries.

(i i) More work per mad The enthusiasm, earnest-
ness and interest shown by the small manufacturer in a
work which he does entirely for his sole profit cannot be
expected from a mercenary soldier of industry the or-
dinary labourer. In a big-scale factory labourer is only
interested in his wage and not the work itself and there-
fore the turn out per head will generally be less
than that of the worker-owner in a small organisa-
tion. While comparing these two means of produc-
tion it should not be lost sight of that had the small man
possessed the same equipment as is available to a worker
in a big-scale industry the output must have been
many times more.

40 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

(12) Manufacture in small quantities It is an advantage
when either the article is very costly or it is not much in
demand. To give one instance only manufacture of
filter paper by a big factory will not be paying as the
quantity consumed is very small. It will, however, be
a very paying proposition to a cottage worker who can-
not onty meet the demand but can also guarantee the
quality of the same.

7" (15) Variation in work Though specialised labour
is considered to be an advantage in big factories
but from individualistic consideration it is one of the
main disadvantages. When a labourer works day in and
day out on one operation only he feels bored by the mo-
notony of work and naturally seeks enjoyment in either
drinking or gambling in some other unhealthy occupa-
tion which ruins his life and also that of the society in
which he lives. If these undesirable habits are traced
their cause will be found in the monotony of work which
exhausts the labourer and forces him to take to such evil
ways.

I (14) Distribution of industries in different localities
Government has realised now that industries are being
congested in a few big towns with the result that wealth
is not evenly distributed and labour is not well provided
for. Traffic cannot be properly organised. It seems
government will take some step against this irregular
growth of industries and will make a scheme by which
systematic growth of industries may be possible in
cfiflerent areas. They have realised now that in order
to give employment to the inhabitants of all localities
it is essential that factories be evenly distributed
throughout the land provided raw material and other
advantages are available.

(i j) Cms man employment .-If it is desired to provide
employment to all and not to make only a few persons
rich, cottage industry is the only solution. Cottage
industry gives the largest employment to the people*
There are very few industries which cannot be profitably

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES 47

carried on on a small scale*

There are certainly many disadvantages also under
which the small manufacturer suffers. We shall try
to enumerate these categorically below:

(i) Capital A big organisation can command
money at a very cheap rate of interest, first on account
of the assets it possesses and secondly, it can get accom-
modation against the finished article. If the condition
of industry becomes depressed still advances can be
availed or against block capital.

We feel, however, that this state of affairs exists
more on account of the combination of factories along
with the incorporation of the companies. We in India
do not differentiate one from the other as the large-scale
factories are not individual concerns but are generally in-
corporated. If the small man starts with sufficient
capital incorporating himself in a limited concern
things are bound to improve.

(2) Expert experience The availability of expert
knowledge is a great advantage to the mass producer
both from technical as well as administrative point of
view. He can not only afford to engage an expert for
every responsible job but he can also place sufficient
money at the disposal of the expert to collect informa-
tion on a point through which manufacture may improve
either in general get-up, in cheapness or in any othei
form or shape. For an ordinary producer slight varia-
tion in a particular process or formula will be very!
difficult not so much due to his conservatism as to the
fact that he can ill afford to make a new experiment
in which a deviation is needed. Besides he possesses
neither the means nor the capability to find out and
adopt up-to-date methods of manufacture.

(?) Up-to-date machinery In the world inventions
are progressing fast and the process of manufac-
ture is changing every day mechanically as well
as chemically. In the first place a small man cannot

48 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

afford to study up-to-date information, even if he does
he cannot easily put it to advantage while the literature
available to the big organiser gives him a great deal
of information and therefore as soon as any new process
is worked out anywhere he can at once contact the in-
vention and if the invention is really an improvement
on the machinery he is working with he can get it imme-
diately changed and thus brains working at long dis-
tances constantly help a big concern which are not
available to the small-scale manufacture.

(4) Marketing A producer of large quantities of
material can easily afford to advertise, send travellers
and appoint agents at different centres and the ex-
penses incurred on ail these items when spread over the
quantity involved come to a very small percentage.
Nobody can exaggerate the value of advertisement nor
the value of marketing. The small man knows to his
cost difficulty of selling his wares. He is always in the
hands of the shopkeeper who often cheats him and plays
false with him. While a factory agent may have no
other business but represent only a firm and thus may be
a whole-time servant and thus is expected to know his
job well. He is generally the man who knows his
locality and the consumers in that line an advantage
which may prove an asset in the long run.

(5) Cheap raw material A person who purchases
in large quantities always purchases cheap. He can
easily bargain, he can directly reach the producer and
can afford to know the lowest rate at which he may be
able to secure goods. He can insist as to the quality of
article purchased and can reject the same if it is below
the standard. All this a small man is not able to do.
He can afford to put one man against the other in tender-
ing the raw material and thus get the benefit of cutting
the prices.

(6) Power of r/^V/Jw^-Ccrtainly a big man has
more power of resistance than the small man. In case of
depression he can afford to dose down or wait for better

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES AND IARGE-SCAXE INDUSTRIES 49

days. He can know the market where still his articles
may be in demand and take advantage of it.

(7) By-products The quantity of waste in big
factories is very large and ii any use is made of them it
becomes a source of income. Big factories, therefore,
always try to find out new uses for their by-products.
In a small industrial concern on the other hand, it is not
worth while to spend money on any such investigation.
In this way big factories always add to the multiplication
of new articles or methods of manufacture. Some fac-
tories have found their by-products to be more paying
than the original articles they were manufacturing. Coal-
tar which used to be a nuisance has now become the
raw material for all types of dyes.

(8) Big industries essential In these days of scienti-
fic development there are many articles which cannot be
made on a small scale and those articles have become
necessary and essential for our future development.
To give only a few instances, caustic soda cannot
be manufactured on a small scale though the article
is required in everyday use. Liquification of gases
cannot be done in a cottage. The manufacture of boilers
steam engines and aeroplanes cannot be done on a
small scale.

CHAPTER IV

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS/

There are a number of difficulties and Handicaps
under which the cottage worker has to work. Some
of them are enumerated below:

Supply of raw material,

Finance,

Technical knowledge,

Efficiency,

Marketing,

Other difficulties.

J ra Mat* r *d* This is one of the chief
difficulties of the small worker. He gets supplies which
are neither reliable in quality nor adequate in quantity.
He has to use bad and unreliable stuff and even that he
has to purchase at a higher price. This question of
the availability of raw material becomes very important
if we seriously mean to develop our cottage industries.
The question can be discussed from the following
points of view : (x) An article which is a product of
Dig industries but is a raw material for cottage industry.
It may either be a produce of this country or an imported
one nrom abroad; (2) Raw material for the purchase
of which big and small industries are rivals whether

We would have very much ukcd to discuss thiy
question for each cottage industry separately bat the
space at our disposal being limited we shall try to be
as brief as possible.

(i) The most important of all cottage industries
is the group relating to the manufacture of Textiles.

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS } 1

All yam used by cottage workers in weaving cloth is
either hand-spun or machine-spun. In the case of hand
spun yarn, it is either supplied through the All-India
Spinners' Association or by the spinners themselves.
Weavers have, however, no control over the supply of
this yarn and we propose to deal with this question
when we discuss individual industries and improve-
ments. However, the quantity of this yarn is not much.
The supply of mill-made yarn is, however, very
important. Weavers cannot afford to combine and
purchase yarn direct from the mills and so they have
to depend upon yarn dealers for its supply. During
the War, the supply was so drastically cut down that
yarn almost disappeared from the market. Black market
prices were many times higher than those lixed by the
Government and a large number of poor weavers had
to remain out of employment. Those who wanted
to get yarn had either to pay exorbitant rates or had
to work for the dealer who would sell cloth manufac-
tured under his own management. There sprang up
thousands of handloom factories or weaving establish-
ments which were nothing else but a method of exploit-
ing the weaver's labour to dealer's advantage. It
may be said that this was an emergency. But even
in normal times most of the weavers are supplied yam
on the clear understanding that they will have to work
for the yam dealer or cloth merchant. Those who
took yarn from the cloth dealers had to pay higher
rates tor yarn, pay exorbitant rate of interest and had
to be contented with the lowest rate of wages. Those
who insisted not to work for the shopkeeper had to
pay a still higher rate for the yam ana if they had to
take it on credit had further to pay a still higher rate
of interest* The yam supplied to the weavers is usually
less in weight, less in length, and inferior in quality
and sometimes the mills also connive at and assist these
methods of the dealers. In the case of coloured yam,
fraud is mote prevalent than in the case of undycd yam*

52 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

As a weaver is generally illiterate he is a bad bargainer
and his ignorance is exploited to the extreme. Weaving
Mills can only sell yarn after satisfying their own dc-
mands and generally they first sell their rejections only.
Thus the poor weaver does not generally get enough
yarn nor of good quality. Besides the profit on yarn,
freight, octroi, and fraud has to be paid for by him
against his mill competitor who had to pay none of these
and in spite of all this he has still to sell at competitive
prices of the mills against him. He cannot get ade-
quate quantities nor the correct weight and nor the
right type and still has to compete against an organised
industry. It is really surprising that he exists. In
the case of foreign yarn ir he purchases the smallest
packet intact the weaver is sure or the quality and weight
out of course has to pay a very high price if he happens
to purchase on credit which he generally does.

The greatest pity of this is that the mill owners
try to justify all these defects. The law on this point
is very defective and not at all effective. We cannot
expect the weaver to leave his business and go to court
and whenever he has gone there he has been made to
realise that long purse always wins. From the history
of textile trade one is startled to find that in the last
war as well as in the present the yardage of cloth pre-
pared in the handlooms has gone down while that of
the mills has gone up. This loss has been traced to
the restricted supply of the yarn to the weaver by the
mills.

The same applies to yarn of silk, artificial silk or
the like.

He has also to suffer from shortage of any parti-
cular tvpe of yarn, which may not be available at a
particular time and in such a case has to change his
scheme of manufacture. It is not only his poverty
which is exploited but his ignorance is not a Little source
ofhisMifficuhy.

*amc difficulty is experienced by fhe hosiery

mFFICULTlES AND HANDICAPS 5 3

man or the rope maker or the like who wants to use yarn
as a raw material of his industry.

No better is the case of those who utilise leather
as their raw material. The small man is at a disadvantage
both in getting a Quality article and also in getting it at
a proper rate. In tne supply of block glass for further
blowing of cloth for cap making and of brass for sheet
metal working the position is not less difficult. In the case
of dyer (trro) the position is very serious. There are so
many types of colours that come in the market and the pro-
cess of aying always differs both in the use of mordants
employed and processing. The dyer cannot afford to
purchase a complete closed tin. He has to purchase it in
small quantities and is always cheated both in money and
material. Poor man ! he is confused when he finds that
a certain lot has not behaved in the same manner as a
similar one behaved on a previous occasion.

A cutlery manufacturer has to be contented with
the type of iron or steel as supplied by the dealer. If
a right supply of steel for different tools, knives and im-
plements would have been made the small worker would
not have allowed the foreign manufacturer to encroach
upon this market. A dealer in certain cases may not
have to be blamed as his ignorance may be just as colossal
as that of the cottage worker but if the shopkeeper
cares to help him, he can certainly do so. New articles
are daily flooding the market but instead of helping the
small man they confuse him more and more and the poor
man has but to rely upon his supplier. He cannot but
believe the latter.

(2) When two rivals want to purchase a certain
commodity, naturally the wealthier will be at an advan-
tage. Compare the case of an oilmill owner with that of
the village oilman. The former knows full well that his
raw material is a seasonal produce and so he must pur-
chase his stock for the whole year. He knows the cheap-
est market and the prevailing rates of that commodity.
Besides all these advantages he can further fortify him-

54 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

self by collecting information as to the oil contents of
the new crop from different markets. While purchasing
he can insist upon purchasing the driest oil seeds.
Against all these advantages compare the position of
the small oilman. He cannot afford to purchase his
stock for the year and has to purchase every day and
even then on credit and naturally he has to go to the
shopkeeper who alone can oblige him. The best crop
is already purchased by the oil mills and it is only the
inferior stock which remains available. Since the price
always goes up after the harvest, oil seeds deteriorate and
oil contents are affected. The result is that the small man
pays high and gets bad article. He not only gets less oil
because his kolhu is inefficient but he gets also less on
account of the bad seed that he is forced to crush.

The same is the case with the small tanner. All
good hides are taken away by the factories which can
afford to purchase directly from the slaughter houses
or from big merchants. The village tanner can hardly
purchase a few hides at a time ana has to be contented
with whatever is available.

Similar is the case of the wool manufacturer. Small
man can neither afford to grade his wool nor can he
afford to get the best article. He has to remain contented
with whatever is left. In most cases he has to purchase
the worst material at the highest price.

We can multiply instances but it is quite enough
for our purpose. It must be admitted that the small
man has to work with inferior raw material and has to
pay higher price than his competitor.

Take the case of leather trade barks, myrobalan and
other articles required for tanning. They are all sold
after adulteration and this adulteration is of many kinds.
This being so they do not behave the same way and the
quality of tanned leather differs for no fault of the worker.
In the manufacture of gold and silver thread, alloys
of different proportion have to be used and a guaranteed
article is not available with the result that the poor man

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 5 J

has to suffer for the fault of the supplier. In shellac
also adulteration with rosin and other articles is very
common.

Instances from different industries may be multi-
plied to show that the small man has not only to pay
higher rates for his raw material but he does not get
it in unadulterated form. Thus the finished article
goes on deteriorating in quality and adding to its
cost. Though the expensiveness of the raw material
may be traced to his financial weakness but the question
of quality requires legislative help. In foreign coun-
tries one can be sure of the quality as no adulteration is
possible. This is in no way due to the honesty of the deal-
ers as things were as bad there as they are nere but the
governments of those countries saw that laws were enact-
ed and effectively carried out. In India in the first place
laws to protect the poor cannot easily be made and even
when they are made they remain ineffective. Govern-
ment can send to prison political workers with or with-
out trial and can find sufficient staff for this purpose,
but they cannot find ways and means to control the
dealers who play havoc in destroying the quality of an
article. When adulteration in articles which affects the
physical condition of the people, is rampant and the
government has not cared to stop it in spite of the
pronouncements of Royal Commissions it seems to be
a dream to expect any help in protecting the small
man from the dealer.

~ii order to make any law against adulteration
effective samples have to be taken by thousands,
standards of purity have to be fixed ana honest exe-
cutive officers have to be employed. Offenders have
not to be let off by simple fines but must be sent
to jails to enjoy the hospitality of government ; unless
this is done things will never improve* Government
should take interest in the small man and should protect
him from fraud and deceit.

Besides the above there is a general

j6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

that the Municipal Boards are playing havoc in des-
troying our industries. They charge octroi duties
on raw material and do nof allow rebate when the
finished articles are sent out. If rules are framed
in this connection they are not administered with
sympathy. It is a pity that Municipal Boards do not
try to help industries which are likely to make them
prosperous. We are definitely of opinion that the
system of indirect taxation has outlived its utility
and must be done away with. If it is allowed to re-
main for some time more Government should frame
special rules for the protection of industries.

(3) Under this category come some other arti-
cles of ordinary trade. Here too the small man has to
contend against many obstacles. All such material
may be divided into two types- one indigenous and the
other foreign. As far as indigenous articles are con-
cerned adulteration and high prices are the main
defects. In the race for cheapness all type of rubbish
is mixed and then adulterated articles are sold to the
disadvantage of every body. The worst of it is that
the names of these adulterants are not even known*
and their behaviour in processing cannot, therefore,
be anticipated. An article may give good results in
one case and in the other may prove to be quite hope-
less. It seems to be desirable, therefore, that steps
should be taken to control the supply of the raw mate-
rial and shopkeepers should be licensed for the sale
of different articles and if even then any of them sells
adulterated articles his licence should be cancelled and
otherwise adequately punished.

Even in cases when the supply originates from
a Government or Government-controlled concern
itself things are not at all satisfactory. Take the case
of minor products collected from forests* The
method so far adopted in different provinces is to auc-
tion the annual produce to the highest bidders. Arti-
cles ate collected either under the direct arrangement

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 57

of the highest bidder or through such petty contrac-
tors. If the contractor happens to be interested in
using the article himself it is apparent that he will uti-
lise the best quality himself and only sell the refuse.
Again these articles are collected by the labourer who
is paid for the quantity he collects and not for the quality
of material collected. He, therefore, naturally is in-
terested in the amount of his collection and not at
all in its quality. Adulteration in these products,
therefore, starts from its very source. Out of the
material so collected better quality is again purchased
by big firms and the small man is left with the choice
of purchasing the worst of the refuse in the market.
As the small man can only afford to buy from the
nearest market and in the smallest quantity possible,
the dealer from whom he buys generally further adul-
terates the already adulterated article before he sells*

There are a number of articles from the forest
areas which come under the above category. Let
us take only two things gums and the tanning mate-
rial. Different gums nave different qualities and one
cannot be substituted by the other. A printer of
doth requires a different variety from the one re-
quired by the inkmaker, while pasting requires quite
a different variety. Bark and other articles used as
tanning material have also different properties and when
they are adulterated with unknown articles it is dear
that their behaviour cannot be what it ought to be*
And, therefore, an industry in which these articles are
used as chemicals cannot produce standard goods*
But if the forest department collects such articles under
its own supervision and emphasis is laid on quality
small man would be considerably helped.

In case of foreign-made articles things are
generally pure if they are sold in original packing. At
any rate one brand is likely always to behave in the
same way. Since small man cannot afford to pur-
chase in original packing he is generally exploited and

5 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

even foreign articles are sold to him in adulterated form.
A few chemicals if not properly stored lose their
efficiency but a cottage worker cannot make an en-
quiry into that. Sometimes on account of new dis-
coveries articles themselves arc changed and their
method of use has to be changed along with it. Manu-
facturers arrange to explain the new product to big
factories at their own expense, for example, they supply
free samples for trial and send their own chemists to
demonstrate the usefulness of the new article but they
do not and cannot do so to the isolated cottage work-
ers, who arc left to learn the new process from the
ordinary small dealer who himself cannot understand
it and therefore cannot afford to give any help to the
worker who purchases from him. He can pick up
something from the advertisement literature on the
subject, but unfortunately he is almost always illiterate
and cannot make any use of the available information
simply because it is in writing.

Finance The cottage worker is very poor and
he has hardly any assets upon which he can rely to
offer as security against credit. He possesses only his
labour. He is so poor that he cannot keep his pro-
mise. Advances made to him for productive pur-
poses are generally spent on his own daily needs. He
gets hopelessly into debt and sheer desperation turns
him into a fatalist. He cannot believe that he will
ever see better days. His earnings are so low that
even by miserliness he cannot be above misery. For
want of money he has to purchase his material at a
high price. He has no staying power and cannot sell
in the best market. He thus loses both ways.

Banks do not give him credit. Philanthropists do
not help him. He is, therefore, always driven to take
advances from such dealers who besides charging a very
high tate of interest supply the raw material at high
prices and force him to sell his goods to them at
considerably lower than current market rates. Thus

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 5

at every step he would like to make some money out
of the hopelessness of the poor man. Co-operative
societies were the only hope of his liberation but
unfortunately they have generally failed.

We are convinced that the outlook on life is
the main cause of this hopelessness. If we can once
change his outlook things will soon change. This
is not the only country where things arc bad but even
in England there was a time when the artisan was in
the same predicament. If we once make him literate
and replace his submissive fatalism by a robust out-
look on life half of the battle will be won. If we want
to organise industries we shall have to provide money
to them and at very low rates*

We have elsewhere dealt with the scheme for
financing cottage industries, here we would only like
to impress that in a less paying industry the rate of
interest ought to have been lower but the poor man is
fortunate if he gets credit even at 12%. No industry
can afford to pay such a high rate of interest much less
an industry which has an organised competitor at
every step.

Technical foiow/edgtj^^jhes^ of scientific

^

. Besides, fashions and wants are not stable.
ucnTTSjpiclly changing world, has no place for crude
and primitive methods. No worker can afford to go
to foreign countries to learn up-to-date methods and
to attend vocational schools wherein he should learn
improved methods of manufacture. A few schools
only have been started so far and even in them the
touchers do not generally take a practical view, nor is
their knowledge up-to-date, and therefore the workers
do not pin their faith in so-called experts. )

As soon as a new substitute for an article is made
a large number of workers are thrown out of employ-
ment. Whenever a new method of manufacture is
evolved, the cottage worker is hit hard. Nature does

60 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

not want to keep alive those who do not move for*
ward. Some of our old workers and industries have
already disappeared and others are disappearing.
Dyers have mostlv disappeared. Small glass blowers
do not exist. Village art of soap making is being re-
placed by the machine-made soap. Oilman is living
a precarious life. Even in remote villages grinding
is done by small power mills. Khandsaris are replaced
by sugar factories so on and so forth. It is only
perhaps in the textile trade that a good many old work-
ers still survive.

We confess that some of them must disappear
under any conditions but if proper guidance and tech-
nical knowledge would have been imparted, organised
cottage worker would have given a better fight and
would have taken to improvements more easily by
adjusting himself to new circumstances. In spite of
his illiteracy, conservatism and his secretness we are
sure a great deal could be done to improve [his lot.
In arts which require more chemical knowledge than
mechanical contrivance, improvement is quite easy.
Even in mechanical methods small machines can be
contrived to meet his small needs. If some of the
old industries have not died out it is only the result of
the doggedness of the workers themselves who pre-
ferred starvation to taking to other walks of life.
It is only in a few cases that any outside help has been
rendered to equip the worker, to fight his battle more
efficiently.

Scientific discoveries have had far reaching effects
on the methods of manufacture. There is no method
by which this knowledge is made available to our
workmen nor any arrangement by which it can be
made use of.

In other countries, dubs, associations and so-
cieties of workers are formed where workers talk and
discuss their difficulties and try to solve them. But
the Panchayats of our workmen meet only to dis-

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 6l

cuss the outcasting of a person for breaking the un-
written rigid code of conduct of the society. So-called
public or Government experts do not generally talk in
the language of the worker and therefore are rightly
treated as aliens. Their advice is always taken with a
pinch of salt. It is but essential to make arrangement
tor collecting and disseminating; scientific information
amongst cottage workers. Tneir conservatism and
fatalism will soon disappear if by introducing new
methods we better their lot.

Efficiency The efficiency of a cottage worker in
output is daily decreasing not because of his laziness ;
but because his rival has improved his efficiency by j
using a more effective machine or a new method of \
manufacture.

The Government tried to provide the weaver
with improved tools and looms but we are told that
the conservatism of the people did not allow these to
be used. It does not seem to be correct. An incident
will make it quite clear. In Madras improved looms
were provided for the workers with which they could
turn out much more cloth per day than they used to
prepare on their looms. For some time the introduc-
tion was welcomed but by and by the workers found
that they had to sell more and this being difficult they
could not earn even as much as they had been doing
before. They held a Panchayat and burnt all the looms
and took to their old method. Though it is an ex-
treme case but it clearly points out that the introduc*
tion of a new machine or tool can only be adopted
when its consequences are provided for. Piecemeal
improvements may not be ueeful and therefore be
resented. We require the best engineers and chemists
to help him. Engineers should put their heads to-
gether to study principles of up-to-date machines and
try to work them on small scale so that an efficient and
suitable contrivance which may be within the means
of the small worker be evolved. Similarly the chemist

6* COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

should teach the cottage worker to follow the latest
process of manufacture.

Daily wages of the artisans are decreasing and
sometimes it pays him to become an ordinary labourer.
It is a very bad state of affairs. We are losing skilled
labour and losing a class of people who can prove an
asset to the nation. We are adding to the number of
the unemployed and thus hastening the national crisis.
It is a very serious matter and requires the attention of
everybody.

Periodical exhibitions and permanent schools
for training are good but artisans can only take ad-
vantage of them if confidence is first created in them
about their utility. The first condition to attain our
object is that the gap between the expert and the
worker be narrowed and both of them are brought
to talk at the same level. The workers must have rail
confidence in the expert and should place all their
difficulties before him. These schools and exhibi-
tions should also be the meeting grounds of the work-
ers, say where new improvements are shown and ex-
plained, while their own difficulties are heard, dis-
cussed and overcome almost every week.

(j) Marketing This is the most important part
of his difficulty. If the article does not sell or sells
at a price which is unremunerativc the whole orga-
nisation fails* The cottage worker desires to have
ready cash and cannot afford to sell his goods in the
best market Both the customer and the dealer take
advantage of his difficulty. Nobody takes into consi-
deration that if the cottage worker does not get a
living wage he will be disturbed. It is in public
interest that he should be kept alive. Had we ap-
proached the problem from the above point of view
things would not have assumed a gloomy picture.
We do not feel the problem is insurmountable bat it has
to be studied, analysed and solved and die sooner k
is done die better*

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 6}

Mahatma Gandhi and the All-India Spinners*
Association have given a fillip to kbaddar and pro-
vided a living wage to many spinners and weavers,
'though the number thus provided may not be very
large out that clearly shows the way. In Kashmir the
whole organisation of wool workers is in the hands of
this organisation and they are doing very useful work.
We wish that more attention should have been given
to the technical side of the question and to advise the
workers in their particular craft.

Generally three methods of sale are adopted*
The first and foremost is that the cottage worker sells
his produce himself by hawking or by taking it to the
market or to the penth. Under such circumstances
he cannot work for the days he goes out for sale and
if the loss in labour is calculated he loses much more
than he would have lost if his articles had been sold
on commission basis. Certain places may be speci-
fied where at an appointed time, artisans majr come to
sell their wares ana thus a regular market is created.
Or one man for a dozen artisans may be appointed to
sell their produce and thus all of them will not have to
lose their time and will get better price and the customer
will have a variety to choose from. There are two
main things which do not allow them to combine.
The first is their lack of faith in each other and the
second is that the proceeds of sale may not reach the
producer as the seller may appropriate the sales to his
own account. Besides a more serious difficulty is that
the workman cannot afford to wait. His daily wage*
do not give him enough and he can only work if his
products are daily sold.

His finaflcjfrj weakness has forced him to sell
his article to the dealer. The dealer wants to ex*
ploit him to the utmost and pays him the least amount
under one pretext or another* The workman is a bad
calculator and at the same time he happens to be help*
less, and hence he loses in the bargain.

64 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

The above difficulties have forced the workman
to agree to a third method wherein the design and the
material is supplied by the dealer and the workman
works for the latter. As a matter of fact if the dealer
would have taken an interest in the artisan this would
have been an ideal method and both the dealer and the
artisan would have been gainers. Unfortunately, the
dealer looks to his own narrow self-interest and does
not take a long view. Instead of giving him a remu-
nerative wage the dealer on every turn wants to cut
down labour costs for one thing or another. When
the workman finds that the dealer, in mad rush of
getting things cheap, goes on to cut his wages he
begins to prepare an inferior article which results in
further reduction of his wages. The workman get-
ting less again makes a still worse piece and gets lesser
still. This vicious circle goes on and kills the good-
will of the industry and brings it to ruin. This method
is followed ad infinitum. But if the dealer takes a sym-
pathetic view, discusses the details of the manufacture
and agrees to provide reasonable wage to the worker
things will begin to improve. The present method
cannot be said to be satisfactory and does not provide
a remunerative wage to the cottage worker. We
in India do not realise that only a well-paid and satis-
fied workman puts forth good work. Some co-opera-
tive sales societies have been found to help the artisans
but unfortunately they are generally manned by officials
who pay more attention to rules and regulations than
to the practical running of the business. There are
some other members of these co-operative societies
who also are not conversant with this work. Spirit
of real co-operation is seldom created, amongst the
members, unless intelligent workmen themselves
become members of the organisation and look after
their own affairs the system can never succeed.

Howevef there are certain inherent defects which
are great handicaps in marketing these goods. One

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS 6j

of the most serious defects is that these goods have
not been standardised and marked so far.

Mill-rpade cloths bear numbers and marks by
which a certain type can be easily distinguished from
others. Unless a customer knows dennitcly what
particular quality he is going to buy he can never be
sure about its price. If the goods ot the cottage work-
ers are standardised and a mark is assigned mere will
be little difficulty in marketing the same. This will
require an association under which all cottage work-
ers should be made to work and to whom all the
pieces should come before they arc marketed. If
they are below standard, they may not be allowed the
mark of efficiency and be sold cheaper as non-standard
goods. A certificate from a recognised association as
to the quality of goods will go a great way to help
marketing. In certain articles we may guarantee the
quality By showing on the label the details of
raw material used in them. We are told that at
Bhingar in Ahmadnagar district every piece is certi-
fied by the Panch before it is sent for sale and this
has worked very well. We wish that a similar system
should be introduced in every trade and be honestly
followed. This method will create a language of the
market and then the customer will be willing to pay a
higher price.

The other defect is that some goods prepared
in cottages lack finish found on those produced
by factories. Irrespective of packing some will have
to be bleached, others may have to be sized and
still others may have to be polished, but every
workman has not the facilities. A good finish of
an inferior article sometimes brings better prices
than the prices of a better but ill-finished article.
In the case of metal, polish may play a very
eat part In the case of woollen goods fulling may
an important process. In certain cases felting may

66 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

be necessary. In cases of glasswares annealing may
be a very important process but very few blowers can
have the arrangement. Bleaching in paper pulp
before it is made into paper may make a world of diffe-
rence in prices of the paper made from it. In leather
goods varnishing or polishing or waxing may be an
important factor. Workman may not be able to do
all these with advantage.

If finishing be done at one common place, the
charge will be less and the articles will fetch a better
pricp.

( Generally articles made in cottages are considered
to be inferior and people try to pay lower price for them.
This mentality must be reversed. Public should know
that every article made in cottage means national em-
ployment and consequently must be paid a higher
price. If this is not done we will be threatened with
the menace of unemployment and the public will
ultimately have to pay heavily for it. Though we are
convinced that if the small and cottage industries are
well organised and the necessary protection is granted
they will be able to stand on their own legs and we
need not be surprised if they successfully compete
with articles made in large factories, yet we feel that
these articles deserve patronage, when we have
seen that cottage industries provide more employment
and they are the only escape from starvation to the
crorcs of our countrymen it is time that these indus-
tries be patronised by everybody. I

Texts The greatest difficulty complained against
is the octroi duty levied by the Municipal Boards on
the raw material and at times on the finished goods
and sometimes on both. It is a pity that the people of
urban areas do not want to tax themselves to provide
amenities of life and levy indirect taxes and thus
rain local industries. It must be the first concern of
the Provincial Governments to examine octroi rales
and their schedule and remove all such things which

DIFFICULTIES AND HANDICAPS $7

stand in the way of the development of industries.
We wish that octroi duty and all such indirect taxes be
abolished but until it is done octroi duty should not
make an article expensive and should not cripple the
trade for the sake of a few coppers, which are needed
to make rich men to lead a luxurious life. To levy
duty on the raw material or to charge an export duty
on finished goods is wrong in principle. To allow re-
bate of a few annas is no remedy of the wrong perpe-
trated. We know the embarrassment and loss or time
involved in getting small rebates and mostly the amount
involved is not worth claiming it. This is a point
which must be gone into very seriously.

Rttilway FreigAt Many industries in the country
have been killed by railwav freight. It is not the place
to go into the details or this controversial question.
Need we say that any addition in freight adds to the
cost of the article whether the freight is levied on the
raw material or on the finished goods. A time has
come when special transport rates tor raw material and
finished goods for different important centres of cottage
industries be fixed and thus small and cottage indus-
tries be helped. The interest of the industries should
not be subordinated to that of the railways as in vogue
but railways must run for industries. While Railways
reduce their rates for big industries, they should
first and foremost do so for cottage industries.

It is a common knowledge that goods-clerks make
several times of their salaries by illegal exactions and
the higher officers have not been able to stop this
practice, but as we know from our own experience
sometime they seem to be helpless in the matter* Such
practices do not exist in other parts of the world
and it is indeed sad that such disgraceful things are
allowed in this poor country. Big concerns have to
pay large amounts per month, yet tne incidence of this
illegal gratification works out a small amount per piece
ot per mapnd; but for a small man any amount however

<58 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

small if added to the cost of manufacture makes the
article very expensive. In some cases the addition of
freight works out as high as 50%. Such a state of
affair is disgraceful and cannot be justified. We wish
this practice to stop as soon as possible. The cul-
prits can be safely detained in prison without trial for
Jong periods as they are far more dangerous to the
public than political workers. Small industries which
do not cater for local needs cannot thrive until the
system is done away with.

CHAPTER V

STATE AID TO INDUSTRIES

In the development of industries government of
every country has played a very important part.
Financing research, providing education, regularising
the industries and protecting them from foreign com-
petition are some ot the well-known methods employed
in other countries. The Government of India did
not recognise this duty for a very long time and the
dissenting note of Pandit Mad an Mohan Malaviya in
the Industrial Commission Report brings out in relief the
handicaps of industries and the adverse actions taken
by the uovernment from time to time to the detriment
or our industrial development. We are glad that the
Government now has recognised this duty and is trying,
though reluctantly, to move in the matter.

After 1914 the Department of Industries has been
created in some provinces and now the development
of Industries is a transferred subject. Railways (trans*
port), Control of import and export and levying the
duties thereon, exchange and currency are all the sub-
jects under the Government of India. This double
control has been the greatest hindrance in the way of
Nation Building Departments. There is neither any
convention nor any statutory provision by which the
Government of India may DC made to agree to a
certain course of action, if all the provinces agree to
introduce a certain measure of protection and help.
Though such a thing will not have been of great help
inasmuch as the interest of different provinces would
have always differed and they would have invariably
disagreed to a joint action but in certain cases such a

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

procedur t would have been of some aid in the matter.
Government of India has now got their Trade Com-
missioners in most of the important countries and they
could help cottage industries by studying foreign markets,
but they seldom work from this point of view. We
have not seen any valuable report describing the possi-
bilities of trade with other countries or giving us de-
tails of industries which can easily be introduced in
this country. Add to these drawbacks the financial
difficulties of the provinces who mainly depend upon
land revenues and irrigation dues for their expenditure.
Below we give the total revenue and the expenditure
incurred by different provinces on the Industries
Department.

Exfwtub turt on Total ordinary of txptndi-

Province Industries Ktvenm tun on Indtu-

Dtpartmtnt tries Defi/t. to

(Rs. in ooo'j) (R/. in oooV) /*/,// rwtnut

Punjab

1,770.8

M9 8 35

1.48

UP.

1,568.0

i>*3>37*

i. ii

Bihar

544.4

50,3*7

i. 08

Bengal

1,056.0

1,50,085

0.81

Assam

250.6

27,5^1

0.92

Orisst

120.4

18,466

0,65

Cciutal P

rovina

s 158.0

45,571

0.57

Madras

866.6

1,60,062

0.54

Bombay

571,8

1,24,381

0.46

Sind

35.0

39*3

0.90

The above expenditure includes the expenditure
on big industries too and also the salaries of the staff*
Thus the expenditure on cottage industries is very
meagre and inadequate. Whenever the question of
retrenchment comes, Industries Department has been
the first to be axed.

There are many other things which make the de*
urtment quite ineffective. The main thing is that
the department is a specialised job yet any

STATE AND INDUSTRIES 7!

officer is considered to be suitable for the post and
he too is not allowed to remain there for long* As
soon as he gets acquainted with the activities of the
department he is transferred and the work is entrusted
to another new man. A person brought from execu-
tive side loves red-tope and naturally buries himself
in the files of routine rather than doing any useful
work.

If the Government really wants to do some useful
work, non-officials who have established their repu-
tation as good organisers and who have taken interest
in the development of industries should be appoint*
ed on these jobs so that they may freely mix with the
public and utilise their business experience for the good
of the people. Unless this is done there seems to be
no chance for any appreciable development. Money
in sufficient amount should be placed at the disposal
of the Director and he must be left free to know the
public opinion and respect the same. Business
and authority go ill together. As longas the employees
in the Department, including the uirector himself,
consider that they are officials and not public servants,
in the real sense of the term, no substantial gain will
accrue.

There is another difficulty in the matter. When-
ever any difficult position arises the Government takes
shelter under one Committee or another and the matter
is referred to them <td infinitum till the public opinion
gets tired. There have been many surveys and com-
mittees but very little has come out of them. It is the
action that is needed; when we have once started work
experience gained will be the best guide*

Industries cannot be an isolated subject. It must
have the co-operation of the different departments.
Co-operation, agriculture, transport, education, etc.,
arc ail connected together. Jn so many cases work
suffers for want of co-ordination. Unnecessary delays
retard the work and bring about waste and loss of time

7* COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

and money. Speedy method of disposal is only possible
when the officers think these matters to be of national
importance and attend to them with the promptness
required.

If there was any hope of placing the cottage indus-
tries on their legs it was the Co-operative Department,
which could give practical help in their organisation.
The same remarks of want of special study and the
transfers apply to the Co-operative Registrar. There
is no consistent policy and secondly the business ex-
perience and skill required to see these things through
is wanting. Co-openpon and organisation require
a study of human psychology. It requires resource-
fulness, pluck and tact^Bid also a grasp of the subject.
All these qualities can Jfenly be acquired by experience
and training. But hfere too the work is entrusted
to untrained men who generally prove to be failures.
In private service if a man is found to be unsuitable
he can be discharged or transferred to another job,
but not so in Government Department with the result
that the inefficiency is writ large. We seem to give
preference to standard of education than to training
required to execute a certain job. We seem to forget
that in certain cases higher education makes a man
bookish and debars the incumbent from doing his duty
in a suitable manner.

It is no wonder that most of the schemes adopt-
ed from time to time by the co-operative department
have failed. Below we give total number of workers
in different industries along with the number of mem-
bers that have joined the co-operative societies from
Bengal Review. This shows the meagreness of the work
done by the co-operative societies in Bengal. Work
in other provinces is in no way better.

STATE AND INDUSTRIES 7)

Total numbtr of Numbtr of mtm-
(ottos? industry btn of

Industry vorktrt tnmffd tin production &
in tbt industry salt scat ties 1937
(Approx.)

Handloom cotton weaving . .

1,92,000

y705

Cocoon rearing

7,900

1,158

Brass and bell metal

11,000

*3*

Blacksmiths and other work-

ers in iron

42,000

3*

Workers in leather (including

shoemakers) . .

9,000

*4S

Carpenters

7,000

3*

Manufacture of sugar & mo-

lasses

4,000

1,036

Pottery & Earthenware

46,000

30

The report rightly observes that "the meagreness
of the progress hitherto made by co-operative
organisations in the marketing of products should
appear to be even more pronounced if the value
of goods sold through various kinds of co-operative
institutions was compared with the values of numerous

Eroducts purchased by production and sale societies and
idustrial Unions (exclusive of milk and paddy unions)
were estimated at Rs. 15, 138 and Rs. io,joo respective-
ly; while the sales of the provincial and co-operative
society during the same year were estimated at about
Rs. 66,000."

To provide training, Government has done some-
thing either by opening schools, peripatetic or j>erma-
nent, or by providing special experts to advise in the
improvements of cottage workers. In the first place
such an aid has been very meagre in comparison to
the vast number of people employed in cottage indus-
tries and secondly it is not, of the proper kind. The
very fact^hat generally the cnildren of artisans and cot-*
tage workers do not join these training centres not the

74 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

adult takes into confidence the so-called Government
experts is a clear condemnation of the system. It is
not always true that the artisans being too poor can-
not afford to send their boys to these institutes. If
it is true, we can introduce the system of teaching at
times when generally these children have no work to
do at home. Further, we may take a few intelligent boys
of these artisans and pay them some stipend and send
them back home after their training. This has been done
in certain cases but students always try to join Govern-
ment service rather than go back to their profession.
This aversion to work in profession shown by trained
sons of artisans is a serious matter and must be in-
vestigated if we want to popularise these institutes.

To our mind there are two causes of this difficulty.
Firstly, the practical atmosphere which ought to pre-
vail in schools does not exist and secondly, schools
have not yet become the centres of research and en-
thusiasm which always counts for success. We re-
quire teachers who are not only interested in their
salaries but more interested in their work and do not
shirk to work with their own hands.

There is no method for increasing the knowledge
and experiences of teachers. There must be arrange-
ment to provide up-to-date knowledge of the market
wherein articles are sold and so also the trend of fashions.
We have written more in this connection elsewhere.

We saw in Japan that whenever a traveller from
outside sends his report or new designs and new sugges-
tions or defects in the articles made in Japan such
reports are attended to by the highest experts in the
country. Attempts are at once made to meet the
criticism. New articles are prepared on those lines
and when that is done an attempt is made to manu-
facture new styles and teach them in these schools.
Thus the schools do not suffer the defect of primi-
tiveness or inanition but they always get a new life
and remain always active and alive. People in business

STATE AND INDUSTRIES 75

or those who have made special study of these subjects
ate asked to lecture from time to time and their ex-
perience and knowledge is thus placed at the disposal
of the schools. Old boys who are in trade or busi-
ness consider it to be their privilege to come to these
schools and give their experience to the students occa-
sionally. In our case industrial schools are places of
no interest as it were and they do not remain alive to
the needs of the people.

As regards equipment, machines, chemicals, etc.,
they are badly wanting in many respects. For research
there seems to be no collaboration with research work-
ers. They do not even get the up-to-date knowledge
through journals, etc., from different countries or differ-
ent parts of the country. It is not a place to enter
into the details of education, but we can say without
hesitation that a lot of improvement has to be made
in these schools before they can be of much use. Their
number must be increased and they must provide
training in all the cottage industries worth the name
in that district or province.

There is not sufficient propaganda amongst the
artisans for these schools. It is not the lectures or
shows that are needed but the best propaganda will
be to produce an article more attractive, better finished
at a cheap rate. If a few artisans earn more through
advice from these schools, confidence will at once
be created.

There are only spasmodic attempts made by
Government but no success can be achieved till a sys-
tematic planning is done in this connection.

The only method that appeals to us is the syste-
matic investigation of the possibilities of develop-
ment. How this should be done let us explain briefly
here. We must make a more detailed study of out
imports and find out what articles put of those am
be manufactured in the country. Similarly through our
Trade Commissioners and travellers we should find

j6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

out articles which may be easily exported. Over and
above these we should get more details of our internal
market. All this will put us in possession of facts
about the markets and consumption in the country.
Then we should make a study of the raw materials avail-
able for manufacture of these articles. A further
study be made about the skill, talent, experience and
knowledge of our people. Taking the above investi-
gation into consideration we should find out as to how
best we can utilise the artisans for the manufacture
of these articles. In case where propaganda is needed
to improve the quality of efficiency of the worker it
should at once be started. If training in certain new
or old industries is desired centres for the same be
organised. For the manufacture of new articles suit-
able persons be employed to evolve useful methods
of manufacture. In cases where machinery, tools
and equipment be available in foreign countries, those
must be imported and such sets be multiplied in the
country. All this requires large staff and expenditure
but the information collected and the work done is
bound to bring about suitable reward. Revival of old
industries or planting of new industries will then be
quite easy and success will be assured.

In order to keep our methods up-to-date we
should have large number of travellers, travelling all
over the country and abroad, and studying the taste and
fashion of the people and also the method of manu-
facture of different types of articles. They may pur-
chase samples, tools, machines, drawings, books and
periodicals and send them to the organisation in the
country. They may take photos, discuss thongs with
business men of other countries and send their periodi-
cal reports. There should be an organisation work-
ing in the country to tabulate, analyse and utilise this
material and keep informed the artisans concerned.
This organisation may issue pamphlets, periodicals]
etc., in toe vernaculars of the country to keep the arti

STATE AND INDUSTRIES 77

sans posted up-to-date.

Besides tnese there may be demonstration patties
^nd training schools to impart education to the people
from time to time for bringing their methods of
manufacture up-to-date.

Arrangement for the supply of raw material at
controlled prices and marketing of goods should also
be made. Loans at reasonable rates of interest be
available for productive purposes. The work of
advertisement should also be done by Government
both by opening emporiums and museums and also by
publishing advertisements in the papers. Control of
production not below a certain stanaard will have to
oe maintained. Government should further see that
articles required by government departments are only
purchased from cottage industries and workmen are
always patronised ana encouraged.

Suitable rewards to artisans may occasionally be
given. Aid or cheap loans may be granted to struggl-
ing artisans. It is a pity that money provided unoer
the Reserve Bank Act has not been utilised for the deve-
lopment of industries though a provision for it has
long been made.

If all the provinces combine in the above planning
duplication may be avoided, resources and experience
may be pooled and full use of the existing facili-
ties may be made. Japan and China have already
given us a lead in the organisation of cottage and small-
scale industries and if we make full use oftheir contri-
vances and organisation we can industrialise our country
in a very short period. Machines, tools and equip-
ment with advantage may be purchased in the first
instance and then their modification and multiplication
according to our needs and requirements may not be
at all difficult. This will prove to be the quickest way
of development.

During the War India made no less sacrifice than
any othe* country and we think we are entitled to

ft COTTAGE AND SMAU^SCALE INDUSTRIES

utilise the skill and expect knowledge both of Germany
and Japan. Why can't experts from both these countries
be brought here to teach us the manufacture of
different articles ? Similarly there should be no hitch
to import suitable tools for the manufacture of differ*
cnt articles*

We hope if the above line of attack is followed
we can occupy the same position as Japan did in our
internal market before the War.

CHAPTER VI

PROTECTION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

There was a time when England believed in free
trade and ridiculed the idea of restricting imports
though she herself had built her industries by levying
tariffs against foreign imports. We cannot forget
the action taken against Indian exports to England.
When a country becomes strong and well-organised
it is easy to preach the doctrine of equality. But just
before the War England herself, let go the principle
of free trade, had to adopt the policy of protecting nor
own industry against other countries. Besides Eng-
land which was the first to develop in foreign trade,
every countrv of Europe and that of United States of
America built her economy on protection and there-
fore raised high tariff walls against other countries.
Though Indian economists and the leaders of public
opinion have always favoured protection yet it is only
in very few industries that the Indian Government
agreed to give relief. Iron, steel and sugar indus-
tries can be pointed out a* instances which have devel-
oped only due to protection. Cloth was also protect*
ed against Japanese competition before the present
War* During the War the Government announced
that they will extend protection to new industries which
may be developed during the War and we entertak
every hope that die government will keep their promise,

It is & recognised feet that for the development
of every new industry protection is a necessity. We
do not want to dilate upon this very important ques-
tion and would like to take it lot granted that protec-
tion will be provided for wherever it may be necewasy.

go COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

When big industries like sugar, iron and cloth
requite protection, cottage industries with extremely
limited scope and capital require both nursing and
protection. When big industries themselves took ad-
vantage of protection and have developed simply on
account of it they cannot deny the same principle to be
extended to cottage industries. As we have said else-
where cottage industries are of national importance in-
asmuch as only through them and them alone we can
provide our population with means of employment.
It is, therefore, essential that all known methods of help
and protection should be allowed to succour cottage
industries. Unless this is done cottage industries
cannot develop and without them a large part of the
population will have to remain poor and starving a
condition which no country of the world can tole-
rate.

Protection in the cottage industries will take,
however, a different shape. They have to be protect-
ed from three sides, firstly, against foreign competi-
tion, secondly, against big industries and thirdly, against
exploitation by capitalists. Let us explain all these
types of protection in more detail.

Details of protection from foreign countries are
very well known and the government is committed to
this principle. We are quite sure that the new govern-
ment, when it begins to function, will take a still longer
view and we hope and believe that it will try to do its
utmost to extend this principle to a still greater extent.
Secondly, industries developed during the War should
not be allowed to die* There are many such indus-
tries. But out of them chemical, pharmaceutical and
biological industries have developed on a cottage
scale and they must be protected. We are sure big
industrialists will not try to take these industries away
from die domain of the small man to their own arrange-
ment and thus will not deprive him of the means of
his livelihood

PROTECTION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 8 1

We are sure that the entire country will be of one
mind so far as protection against foreign imports is
concerned be it in favour of big industries or cottage
industries. We on our parts expect the big industria-
lists to fight the battle both of their own and that of the
small man.

Protection against big factories is rather a ticklish
one. Before we proceed a question may pertinently
be asked, viz. t Does there exist a competition be-
tween the big and small industries ? If it is so, is it to
the advantage of the country that no further improve-
ment be made? Will it do any good if the entire work-
ing be left in the hand of the cottage worker who is
not only slow in adopting improvement but is utterly
conservative, orthodox and opposed to change his
primitive and crude methods ? It may be argued and
perhaps very plausibly that big industries are nothing
but a method of improvement on cottage industries.
All industries in the beginning start on a cottage scale
but by continuous improvement they become big-scale
industries. If we once adopt the principle of protec-
tion against big-scale industries we place a premium
on inefficiency, backwardness and primitive and crude
working. Surely nobody would like his (country to
continue to follow backward, out-of-date methods with-
out taking full advantage of the latest inventions and
discoveries of the world.

Those who believe in Mahatma Gandhi's doc-
trines about machinery may say that if prc-machincry
method of living gave them more happiness,
more contentment and better moral outlook of life
why should one fight shy of these arguments. Cut
down your needs and the exploitation of one coun-
try by another will cease. There will be no rush for
armaments and everybody will lead a Yar better life
than what it is led to-day. There will be no necessity
of wars and the need for the invention of the atomic
bomb will never arise. After all wiping away of more
6

t* COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

than 2 lacs of people most of whom were not belligerents
by a single bomb is not a desirable thing. Such, and,
perhaps, still worse, things will happen. Perhaps, the
so called scientific world will end itself by its own science.
After all, it is a waste of human energy to produce
children and then send them away to serve as canon*
fodder. This mad rush for colonies and the enslave-
ment of the people of other countries along with the
cry of democracy and condemnation of aggression is
nothing else but a fraud and chicanery against humanity.
After all, the ideal of humanity cannot be its own des-
truction. Nor can it be the enslavement or the ex-
ploitation of those who are physically or morally
weak by the comparatively stronger. One expected
better handling of man by man than has been displayed
in this War. In the make-up of modern science and
discoveries we see nothing else but misery all round and
it seems the time is coming when the world will be des-
troyed by its own inhabitants through atomic bomb
or something more destructive. The principle of
'might is right 9 is an animal instinct and not a human
rationale of society. Have few wants, supply them from
natural sources as far as possible and be contented and
happy. Do not exploit others but do not be exploited
either, and if the exploiter does not willingly withdraw,
do not resist physically but non-co-operate or by sym-
pathy with your enemy win his heart and cruelty will
disappear from the world.

The above argument is a mixture of religious,
social and economic ideas blended together. Out
province being only economics we can discuss these
things purely on an economic plane, and . therefore
will simply end by saying that there is nothing wrong
in a weapon but the mistake may be in wielding
the same. A sword may be used to shed the blood
of am innocent person as well as of a dacoit and a mur-
derer. But the sword is a far better weapon than a stone
and one's own daws. Amenities of life seem desk*

PROTECTION OP COTTAGB INDUSTRIES 83

able to every man. There is a natural instinct to desire
them* That being so it does not stand to reason that
the people of any country who actually use the aero-
planes should not try to manufacture them. After
all man was born an animal but he was not satisfied
with that life alone and spurred by dissatisfaction he
went on progressing till he started to grow wheat and
plant fruit and build houses so much so that now no-
body can say where he is going to stop. If aeroplane
is unnatural, agriculture is also unnatural and so is the
bullock cart. If the exploitation of man by another
man is bad, why should the exploitation of one animal
by another be tolerated ? For, after all, man is also an
animal.

We take it for granted that most of us or at least
the majority of us believe that science can help ai
great deal to add to the amenities of life. That being
so, we take it for granted that we do want to take full
advantage of the modern scientific discoveries and
inventions.

Then the question will arise as to why we should
not adopt the American method of mass production and
say good-bye to the cottage industries once for all*
If We had a vast country like America with about one
fourth the population of what we* have in this country
we might nave differed in the method of the exploita-
tion lot other countries and in that of creating huge
cartfels and monopolies but certainly we would have not
oMected to mass production. In a sparsely popu-
laied country labour saving machinery is welcome andf
being conducive to the good of the people it should
be utilised. But in a country which is very densely
populated, where poverty is rampant, where the stan-
dard of living is very low, and where labour is perhaps
at its cheapest, will it not be criminal to utilise heavv
machinery and then turn unemployed into the idle ones r
After all machinery and inventions are for man, and mam
is not for them. If we still believe, and we think we

H4 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

should, that man is higher than machine, then, we shall
have to adopt means and methods which will keep the
machine as a servant of humanity and not the master
of it. If we once agree to this argument all what has
;been said against cottage industries will be overruled.
After all such a huge population which remains un-
employed and whose number will increase rather than
decrease by the introduction of big industries, cannot
be supported by charity or by dolls nor it is desirable
to create a moral defeatism which is the natural conse-
quence of charity. People do not want charity and most
of them would prefer starving to begging. They want
work and it is the nation's task to provide them with it*
Government is nothing else but an instrument of the
nation's will. That being so there is no royal road to
be followed by all the countries of the world. Every
country will have to evolve its own method. This
is why we have dealt with this point at great length
in a previous chapter.

Let us examine a bit more definitely whether by
adopting cottage industries as our ideal we really put
the hands of scientific clock back. When we start
big industries we have only a few dozen persons at
the top while we employ working labour by thousands
They repeat the same process day in and day out withou
using their intelligence or common sense. After thi
work is over they get so exhausted that they do not *
desire to take to any cultural activities. Even if s<us,
-of them are left with some energy there are no occasftur
for them to divert it usefully. Besides this we creac
a class of people who if deprived of factory employ
ment cannot but seek the same again. From humai
point of view we really kill the initiative in the labourer.
Suppose we provide the people with bread, but, does
a man live by bread alone ? No. It is indeed a sad
spectacle to see a labourer in big factories where he is
nothing more than a part of the machinery itself. He
rworks and behaves like a machine. If intelligence or

PROTECTION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 9%

common sense is used it will invariably spoil the trick
and the factory will suffer. A manager will not like
that idea at all. If readers take the trouble of studying
the history of factory development in England and
other countries they will at once be convinced of the
above arguments. For years the labourers would not
leave their own homes and would not go to the factories.
They would not work in them as their liberty was
destroyed and therefore they preferred smaller income
than they could get in factories. It was only gradually
that they succumbed to the temptation. In the case
of cottage industry we take the scientific discovery and
invention to the ordinary man. We widen the horkon
of his intellect. We make him self-reliant, liberty-
loving and house-enjoying. We make him more cul-
tured and master of his own affairs. Common sense of
the people is more developed and modern knowledge is
made more easily available to the average man through
cottage industries, for we thus create an inauisitiveness
amongst the ordinary people. The children of the
nation have a better and wider outlook as they see all
round new arts and crafts run on the most modem
, scale. If everybody would have taken to big industries*
l weaver would have become an ordinary labourer
fo>erforming a certain monotonous duty unthinkingly
w#d thus would have lost all his initiative.
tion > If you once allow that a fcottagc weaver should c
to take full advantage of the chemical and mechanical,
inciples and processes all objections raised above will;
sappear. Had we advocatea cottage industries of the
of handicrafts only it would have been otherwise.
5ut we believe in employing all the scientific knowl-
edge employed in running big industries minus the
enormous amount of capital and huge machinery. We
wish to bring the highest chemical and mechanical
principles to the aid of the ordinary man which the big;
industrialists in India do not even care to understand!
So far the big industrialist has only been investing hi*

86 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

capital in importing big machinery and starting new
ventures with the help of the foreign manufacturer and
thus there is very little knowledge that comes through
big industries. In spite of the fact that for more than
fifty years he has been using textile machinery he never
risked his money to manufacture it in India. Though
the sugar machinery is full of very crude and huge parts
which can easily be manufactured yet he has always been
trying to import them from abroad. Ordinarily big in-
dustrialist unfortunately believes in making his money
and does not believe in enterprises where research, dis-
covery or invention is needed. He has not cared to spend
money on research or improving his method of manu-
facture. It does not mean that we condemn all the people
down-right but a majority of the people believes in easy
methods of making money and does not care in the spread
of knowledge. There are certainly very many exceptions.
States have certainly done a lot in research and during
the War they have shown what can be done in the way
of manufacturing new types of articles. There are some
others also. But in such a big country their number is
very small and not worth (consideration. Readers will,
therefore, agree that it does not lie in their mouth to
place the above argument against cottage industry.
We have advocated the Japanese method of cottage
industry where the principles, applicable jto the highest
machinery have been introduced to small industry .y-4
have even been improved upon by eliminating the sp
parts* Wherever it had not been possible to do so thious,
divided a process into two or more stages so that orput
could be worked on a big scale and other on a cottagefse
scale. But where it had been found to be absolutely im~\re
possible to work on a small sea It y wholly or partially, they ig
did it on a big scale. In doing so we take the most modern <?
scientific knowledge to every cottage worker and since
small machines come to be demanded in large numbers
we introduce a class of people who. manufacture small
machines and thus cultivate a high standard of intelli-

PROTECTION OF COTTAGB INDUSTRIES 87

gence. This being so we cannot be accused of destroy*
ing the class of intelligent worker employed in the crude
or primitive method of manufacture.

Now the main argument being disposed of we have
to establish that there exists an unfair competition be-
tween big and small industries. Avoiding marshalling
facts on this point let us quote from the well-known "Re-
port of the Bombay Economic and Industrial Survey Com-
mittees of 1938-40" presided over by one of the biggest
industrialists and business men of India, Sir Purshottam
Das Thakur Das Kt. Fortunately he is one of the signa-
tories to the Bombay Plan and his moderate and sympa-
thetic views are well known. We have the privilege of
personal acquaintance with him and we know that every-
body in the country holds him in high esteem so far as
industrial questions are concerned. We attach very
great importance to this Committee's views as Bombay
is the most industrially advanced province in India, ana
therefore the readers will excuse us if we quote this
report rather in extenso. Here is the relevant portion
of the report:

"Cottage industries and large-scale industries One of
the questions referred to us was the relation of cottage
industries jo large-scale industries. There is no doubt
that several large-scale industries do compete with
several cottage industries and many cottage workers
this competition. The handloom weaver com*
of the milt, the cartmaker and cart-driver complain
the bus, the potter complains of the aluminium factory
d the brass and copper worker complains of the fac-
tory-made brass and copper utensils. But the existence
of this competition should not make us forget that there
still are, even in the case of articles where there is com-
petition, special markets of cottage products where the
latter can easily hold their own* Then there are com-
modities in the production of which the cottage
industries arc especially suited such as gold and silver-
ware, lacquered ware, embroidery, cane work of various

88 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

kinds, sandal wood and ivory carvings, production of
fancy articles from fibre and a number of art crafts;
the cottage worker who is engaged in the production of
these commodities has no quarrel with large-scale
industries. Finally there are some cottage industries
which not only compete with large-scale industries,
but are actually dependent on the existence of the latter.
Some examples of such industries are tape making,
bobbin making, motor cushion making, manufacture
of leather articles required by calico printing on mill
cloth. There are also a number of services which have
followed in the wake of large-scale industries particularly
those of repairs which give whole-time employment
to a number of what may be described as cottage workers.
It will appear, therefore, that there need not be any funda-^
mental conflict of interest between large-scale industry
as such and cottage industry and the prosperity, the lat-
ter would not necessarily mean the decline of the former*
It will be the business of the Industries Departments to
explore all the possibilities for the establishments and
expansion within the province of those cottage indus-
tries which do not compete with large-scale industries.
It is also possible to combine large-scale methods and
manufacture with some cottage processes such as factory-
made splints and veneers accompanied by match making
as a cottage industry as in the Madras Presidency.
Possibilities of this kind also be investigated by the P 11
dustrics Departments. When all this has been done, how
ever, there is no doubt that there shall still remain a large
industrial field where there is short competition between
the product of cottage industries and those of large-scale
industries. This is partilcuarlv true of the textile industry.
Representatives of the Bombay and Ahmadabad Mill-
owners Associations attempted to prove by reference to
statistics of mill production, imports and the estimated
handloom production, etc., that the organised cotton
tactile industry was mainly competing with the pro-
ducts of similarly organised foreign textile industries

PROTECTION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 89

and not with those of the local handloom weavers*
We are unable to accept this contention in toto. There is no
doubt that the mill product, whether imported or indigenous
has been steadily encroaching on what used to be the
bandloom weavers preserve and the most recent exawph
of such penetration is the field of women 9 s clothing. It
may be true that the mills arc not making saris and
khans exactly of the kind which the handlooms make,
but they are certainly making saris and bodioj cloth
which women for various reasons take to wearing in
preference to the handloom variety. The representa-
tives of the various handloom weavers' associations such
as those of Maharashtra Weavers' Association, Karnatak
Weavers' Association, the Industrial Co-operative
Association, Ahmadnagar. The Industrial Co-operative
Association, Hubli, etc., bitterly complained of this
competition and some of them suggested the imposition
of a duty on mill cloth while others pleaded for a statu-
tory division of the textile market between the mill indus-
try and handloom weaving industry. We arc unable to
consider the suggestions in detail and make our recom-
mendations thereon, because we are convinced that un-
less power is obtained to control import effectively
any such action may result in benefit to neither the
local handloom weaving industry nor the local mill
industry. Moreover the organised mill industry is not
*^1bd only in this province and any action taken by the

l/incial government may only result in loss to the
/ill mill industry without any advantage to the hand-
weavers. Finally, all such actions restrictive, in some
sure or other, of the activity of large-scale industry

rvitably raise inter-provincial and inter-state questions
which cannot be solved by the unilateral action of the
single provincial government. In our opinion the ques-
tion or regulating the activities of large-scale industries
particularly the textile industry which compete with cot*
tage industry is a subject which cannot be decided upon
by the Bombay Government alone and we recommend

90 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

that this question be referred by the Bombay Government
to a special conference of the representatives of the
Government of India and other Provinces and State
Governments in the country and the Provincial action
should follow the lines of an agreed policy that such a
conference may adopt. We would like at the same time
to record our opinion that in case powers are obtained to
control imports as suggested above and an agreement is
obtained from the other provincial and state governments
on the matter of the regulation of large-scale industry
competing with cottage industry, some regulation of the
kind referred to above particularly a division of the
market accompanied by a duty, if necessary to prevent
the encroachment of the mill market into the handloom
market offers a possible solution. We think, however,
that the whole question should be examined in all its
various aspects by the conference the convening of
which by the Bombay Government \ve have recom-
mended above."

Italics should be marked. (The italics in the above
are ours.) Let us first make it clear that we do not agree
as to what has been said about the legitimate scope
of big and cottage-scale industries. Cottage industry
has been in existence for a very long time and the big
industries have only recently usurped their functions
and, therefore, it is but necessary that the big-scale
industry should show their justification. In I

. / - '. , .

there is scope for cottage industries to exist
is far higher scope for the big industries to es
lish themselves in manufactures of articles p:
duced by cottage industries. But if they want
encroach upon the market which is rightly the domain o 1
cottage industry they cannot be looked upon wi
favour. The sympathy of the public will always be
with the worker and he should always be protected
against the capitalist.

However, it has been admitted that encroachment
does oust and some action in that connection is called for.

PROTECTION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 9*

The biggest industry is that of the textiles and it is
there that the encroachment is being made. It is neces-
sary to provide two separate markets for both, and the
big factories should be prohibited to make goods pro-
duced by the cottage workers. There should DC a simple
and cheap law to register designs with the Collector of
the district and if once registered such a design should
not be allowed to be copied by mills. It is true that
the prohibition of manufacturing certain goods by big
factories can only be effectively carried out by the Centre
and we have proposed at another place that there must
be a department of the central government directing
and protecting cottage industry. Things which are
made by cottage industry should not be allowed to
be made by big factories. Since the government has
already decided to control the location of big factories
there we presume some sort of licensing will be in-
troduced on behalf of the central government. If it
is so intended it will not at all be difficult to restrain big
industries from encroaching upon the field of cottagd
workers. They can be refused permission if they do not
agree. India is not a country which may be said to be
well industrialised. There are thousands of articles which
are not made in the country, let the big industrialists
invest their money in the production of these articles
rather than encroach upon the domain of the cottage
ker. VtAfc' OKM*V to^iky c**** .

There are two other types of organisations against
the cottage worker must be protected. From shop-
rs who provide raw material and purchase finished
Articles and secondly those who employ the artisans
as workers either on wages or pay them on the basis
of the amount of work done. Generally the latter
method is adopted. From investigation it has been
found that the first method is more dangerous than the
other. In their interim report on marketing of cottage
industry products (September 1939) the committee found
that the shopkeeper by advancing raw material and get*

9* COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

ting back finished article makes a profit of 50% on his
investment. It is a very high rate of profit and does not
include the interest that he charges over and above this
profit. In the second case the wages are so meagre
that the worker has to work late hours which adversely
affects both the quality of the product and the health
and efficiency of the people employed. Cottage worker
must be protected from both types of exploitation.

In the case of the shopkeepers who sell raw material
to the cottage workers and purchase the finished goods
from them licensing of dealers may be introduced and
the licence holders should be asked to maintain all their
transactions in writing Daily rates of raw material
and the price at which a finished article is purchased
and sold may be exhibited. This will lessen the abuse
to some extent. Inspectors may be appointed to protect
workers engaged on wages and rules may be made for
improving their condition. But all these methods will
only be palliatives and cannot remedy the evil,

We have given separately the method of avoiding
the above abuses and therefore need not repeat the same
over again here.

CHAPTER VII

NATIONALISATION OF COTTAGE INDUS-
TRIES

No Government in modern times is worth the name
which does not make provision for unemployment. In
every country funds for the purpose of giving dole to
those who do not find work are created. Insurance
against unemployment is introduced. But so far nothing
has been done by the Government in this country.
Perhaps the Government considers itself to be incom-
petent to provide work for crores of people who remain
unemployed. Add to it the vast number of those who
are simply partially employed, hh?^^
that people living^ on ajgri^ffa'ig jgCMi^Iy" remain
tmemploycd tor apcriod varying ^ c ^^ n _J^^lJlx
months aricTThe landless labourers remain unc5ii

^ Tfien

W^ziaSir^r^lSoM wqrKfigjn
industries (cottage) wHoarc" c^rfl 'ffijy tlwwiLxSu^ of

gmployment., whosfiould finJ worlc for these people
^ She maufquestion ?

I Illiterate people, poor and unrcsourccfol, cannot
6e expected to solve this problem; nor the rich will be
billing to share their wealth with them. Big industries,
itt&L cannot give employment lojuch a nu|te
i. What is die remedy and who is to discover It?
of raising the standard of living of the people
who have no standard at all looks to be a huge joke cut at
the people's expense. To provide criminals in jail with
food and clothing and to neglect those who are innocent
and willing workers is to incite people to commit crimes*
Theft and robbery is the result ot natural urge to save

$4 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

one's life from nakedness and starvation. Not to pro-
vide work for the people and only to provide it when
they commit crimes is a crime against humanity.

If once it is decided that it is the duty of the Govern-
ment to provide work for the people, half the battle of
removing poverty is won. It is a pity that neither the
Government consider it to be their duty nor the leaders
of public opinion create an agitation for it and they still
deceive themselves to think that they can raise the stan-
dard of the masses.

Recently the Government have issued a communi-
que on the question of nationalising some of the
industries. Such a move has been adversely commented
upon by industrialists. But if the Government had
decided to nationalise cottage industries nobody would
have objected and the Government would have caught
the imagination of everybody. We are sure, the Gov-
ernment know their limitations and their resources
and capabilities. They have seen that, even for a
few lacs of demobilised soldiers, they are quite unable
to provide suitable work though a great fuss has been
made over this question. From the little we know, the
Central or the Provincial Governments find themselves
unable to solve this problem. To employ them in
building work is no solution. If they have not been
able to solve the problem of the soldiers, will the Gov-,
crnmcnt take up the uphill task of employing tale
cottage worker by nationalising industries ? V^L

we may be permitted to point out that the nationaY" 1
isation of cottage industries is far more easier than ttV
provide work for the demobilised soldiers* In the first!*
place the cottage worker generally knows his job and T
is interested in his own work. His willingness to remain
where he is, is a great asset. In the case of a demobilised
soldier, he has neither the necessary skill nor he has
any future plans to follow one profession or the other.
Secondly, the cottage worker is already leading a miser-
able life and gets very little to keep his body and soul

NATIONALISATION OP COTTAGE INDUSTRIES JJ

together. A little organisation or guarantee for his occu-
pation will prop him up and he will be satisfied and be
grateful to those who help him. Demobilised soldiers have
come mostly from agricultural classes. Their standard of
living has been raised during the War and now they are
not likely to remain satisfied with their old standard*
Thirdly, whatever the artisans produce, there already
exists a demand for their goods and a little organisation
and advertisement will help them to remain in their
profession. Fourthly, they can provide for their own
tools and equipment to begin with and will be willing
workers in the link that tne Government decide to
forge for them. Fifthly, they are still being forced and
exploited either to work in the Karkhanas or in their
own homes for the Karkhanedar. They will welcome
to work for the Government, if they are assured of
regular work. Lastly, there already exists an organisation
of some sort in some of the industries in different
provinces where either the co-operative societies are
working or something else is arranged. Government
servants know many of the details of these industries and
there will be no difficulty in nationalising the same.

When Government experts go about, write reports
and suggest improvements, they, in a way, admit that
there is a field for the articles manufactured. They also
sgem to think that improvement in the method is also
Ible. What is required is simply to provide money
/the organisation and to take the industries up as
jing concerns. Here is a chance for the Government
Iperts to take the matter up and show to the world 1

oat Indian Government can show its capability in
construction and can prove its worth in peace, what it
has already proved in war*

During the War, Government collected and spent
money in astronomical figures. If Government keeps
up the taxation at this level for a year more the money
so realised will be more than enough to organise at
least some of the most important cottage industries.

96 COTTAGE AND SMAJLL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

Government officials have acquired some knowledge in
getting war articles manufactured. Now let them
cater For the needs of civil population. This valuable
experience should not be lost. Of course, during the
War there existed a demand and it was so urgent that
even a low standard of goods was acceptable. When an
industry is nationalised the workers can easily be forced
to produce only standard goods.

It may be said that places of manufacture cannot be
easily provided in such a short period and if the worker^
remain as isolated units they cannot be supervised easily.
This does not seem to be an insuperable difficulty. Tem-
porary arrangements may be made as they were mostly
done in the case of military production. But there does
not seem to be any necessity to force the worker to
leave his own home. He may be allowed to work in his
own cottage. When the purchase will be a Government
monopoly he can certainly be forced only to produce
standard goods and, we arc sure, he will be perfectly will-
ing to do so. Of course, in the organisation there are
likely to be some mistakes as it is bound to happen
in such undertakings; but the arrangement should not
be abandoned on this score. Let the Government once
realise their responsibility of providing work for the
masses and take up only those industries for which
they have got their experts and in the meanwhile let
them train more men. We are told that there a
tclligcnt, literate and resourceful soldiers. If so,
can be easily trained in this type of work. We have
that some of them are sent out to learn weavi
dairying, etc., and it is considered that they wi
become quite efficient in their work only within
short period of two months. If this is so, they can be
certainly utilised for organisation work after a training
of six months or so. Most of them may be absorbed
as workers and others as supervisors and some of them
may be utilised for transport work. Many of them
may become salesmen, others as advertisers, hawkers,

NATIONALISATION OF COTTAGE INDUSTRIES 97

etc. At any rate there is a big scope for utilising them
in the above organisation. We have got already
semi organised industries crying for improvement. Let
the Government take these up and place them on a
sound footing.

We are sure if once this work is taken up by the
Government many new industries will suggest them-
selves and we shall see a prosperous country in a short
period.

Once the official organisation functions a new
orientation will be given to cottage industries which
will at once raise the prestige and status of the work-
men. If once the entire machinery of the Government
is moved to patronise articles mfcde in cottages, we shall
have a new current of hope electrifying the workers.
Enthusiasm so created will raise the standard of the
masses. When once the worker is guaranteed a living
wage he will be able to place his heart in his work.
Quality of goods will be immensely improved. Every
worker will be sure that justice will be done and his
merits will be recognised. He will then try to show
his art, which has so far been suppressed, and we
shall have far more beautiful and artistic designs in
the market.

Though the War is over yet the controls are still

"^continue. The supply of consumer goods is still

itcd and will remain restricted for some time to come.

dder the circumstances, the Government has full con-

lol over the supplies and can thus very easily adjust the

production accordingly.

Under this most favourable situation nationalisa-
tion of cottage industries becomes quite easy. To-day
consumer goods are not available even at prices fixed
by the Government and consumers are forced to pay far
higher prices than the maximum fixed by the Govern*
ment. Thatbein^so, there is no chance of a slump in the
market. For nationalisation, therefore, present is tfie

98 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

best opportunity and it must be taken advantage of
immediately.

The only objection that can be raised against this
type of nationalisation may be the old bogey of Gov-
ernment competing against private firms. This does
not seem to us a serious objection inasmuch as
the number of persons affected will be verv small.
Those who work as Karkhanedars will only oe affect-
ed* The Government can no more allow the method
of exploitation followed in these Karkhanas any more.
Karkhanas do not employ even 1% of the total popu-
lation of cottage workers and for their sake we cannot
imore the interest of the 09% of the people. If
these Karkhanedars have not keen helpful in the devel-
opment of industries they cannot very much object
now. But we think they can easily be absorbed either
as retail dealers or government servants or commis-
sion agents. It may also be possible that some via
medw for keeping them intact may be found out.
If Government is willing to take over the working
of big factories during the course of nationalisation
why then will they object to do the same in the case
of small Karkhanas?

The main thing to be considered in all such or-
ganisations is the worker himself, and he must be
protected, encouraged and helped. This cannot bf:
cone without some sort of Government organisa^g-scale
in which the Government may show us the way*
developing cottage industries.

If the idea appeals to the public and the Cover!)
mem is willing to take it up, the details may be easil
worked out and difficulties suggested may be easil
overcome. The idea certainly appeals to us to be vet
practical and profitable and we wish a trial of it ma
be made as soon as possible.

CHAPTER VIII

ORGANISATION

We give below a graphic picture of the organi-
sation required to develop cottage and small indus-
tries in case the country does agree with our idea
of nationalising the same. We strongly feel that the
economic condition of the masses can only improve
by providing employment through cottage and small
industries and that can only be achieved by public and
State help.

Following table gives the details of the 'organi-
sation', at a stretch. In order to justify the above
organisation we would like to add a few words as
explanation so that the underlying idea may be clearly
brought out.

Central Government: The Central Government has
so far not taken any interest in the development of
cottage or small-scale industries. At times tne policy
of tariff has worked against cottage industries; they
hav done injustice many a times, while helping big
itries. Time has come when the State should
isc their responsibility of providing employment
all and cvcryoody. All talks of improving the
indard of living pi the masses are of little avail till
ae economic condition of the people is bettered. If
JPC once admit the responsibility of finding useful em-
ployment for the masses, it becomes necessary that in
a country of huge population the matter should be
tackled by the best men available. We consider, there*
fore, that the Department of Cottage Industries be forth-
with established as one of the main nation-building
departments, both in the Central and Provincial Govern*

100 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

mcnts. Sufficient attention to this important subject
will not be given without providing a separate port-
folio both in the Centre as well as in the Provinces.
So long we tag small industries to big industries jus-
tice will not be done to small worker. Big industrial-
ists will both be influential and vocal, and will have
a better hearing inasmuch as they will place their
requirements in a more definite and clear form. From
the perusal of the previous pages the readers will
realise that cottage industries have to be protected
not only from foreign countries but also from big
in 'ustrics. In order to do this the same minister should
not be made incharge of both types of industries.
There is, however, another reason for creating a
separate portfolio for cottage industries. Tariff,
Railways, Trade Commissioners in foreign countries,
Research and Forests are controlled by the Gov-
ernment of India and all these things have a great
bearing upon the development of cottage industries.
Unless we appoint a separate minister to be incharge
of cottage industries, justice will not be done, we
have already pointed out elsewhere that while levying
import duties cottage industries are sometimes very
badly hit, specially when the imported article is used as
a raw material by the cottage workers. Similarly
the import of raw material at certain centres or ex*x>rt
of finished goods from that centre, though gives
cient load to the Railways, yet on account of s
packages, Railway authorities do not recognise
importance of giving a special treatment in freig
charges to cottage industries. In any future researc
concerned with industries small man requires more
help and encouragement than big industries, while
so far small man's claim has never been entertained.
Aa industrialist can afford to employ technical skill
or a suitable organisation for research but nobody can
expect workmen to combine in order to make arrange-
ment for research in their difficulties. , Similarly the

.9><

TI

8

! 1

I

ORGANISATION lOt

question of export consisting of wares collected from
a number of artisans will remain a difficult proposi-
tion unless it is organised for the benefit of the cottage
worker. Trade Commissioners working as repre-
sentatives of the country in different outside places
can render very useful help to small worker in provid-
ing new designs and studying taste and fashions of
those countries and passing them on to manufacturers,
Travellers sent abroad will similarly help the workers
in clearing out collected information. A small man
will never likely be able to afford to study forcipn
markets individually or collectively. Big industries
can take care of themselves and, if need be, can easily
approach the highest officials for the removal of their
complaints, while on the other hand, a cottage worker
cannot have the courage to approach the official,
and if he dares do it, he cannot effectively place his
case. We, therefore, require a special minister for
cottage industries both in the Centre and in the Pro-
vinces a minister who will be the guide, patron, a
teacher and adviser to the cottage worker as well as an
alert sympathiser of the poor.

To provide a minister without sufficient eouip*
mcnt and staff will not be of much help. We nave
given details of the functions as well as staff required
in the case of Provincial ministers. We have not done
so in the case of Minister-in-Chargc at the Centre.
However, we have tried to indicate his responsibi-
lities in different lines and that will give a sufficient
idea as to what type of staff and equipment will be
needed. However, let us point out that the minister
must be provided with a very good library, arrange*
ment for collecting statistics and all the details of
manufacture. He must possess reliable figures of the
people employed in different trades and callings and
must have technical experts to advise him as to what
new industries can be started and with what taw
material. He must also possess a detailed knowledge of

IO2 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

the fashion, taste and requirements of the foreign
countries. His department must possess information
about the raw material available and the purpose to
which it can be utilised.

During the War the Government at the Centre
took frantic efforts in organising the production of
new articles, which were either imported from the
foreign countries or whose need was felt for one
thing or the other. Production of woollen or silken
goods and number of chemicals for which India had
the raw material are good instances in point. If
similar efforts are continued and team work amongst
different experts is organised at the Centre, we shall
see that within a short period we shall be providing
all our needs and may be able to establish trade in
foreign markets. We arc perfectly convinced that there
will be more than ample work for the Minister In-
Chargc at the Centre and he will render very good help
to provinces. As a matter of fact, we are fully sure that
in the beginning, for a few years, the amount of work
will be so much that he will have to get a few assis-
tants to collect, tabulate, collate and sift the infor-
mation required. Great details of different indus-
tries as worked in the country and abroad and the raw
material and equipment needed will have to be collected
and utilised which will keep the entire staff very busy.
Given the spirit and keenness, and we are sure the
labours of the Minister will be very well utilised.

The Minister In-Charge of cottage industries in
the provinces will be helped by the Director of Cot-
tage Industries. The Director will be executive offi-
cial head of the department and will be helped by the
statutory committee of non-officials* * We have provided
a statutory committee instead of an Advisory one,
for the simple reason that the latter is not effective.
We have noted that when the advice of non-officials
is not cared for, they naturally lose interest in their
work and do not put in their best efforts. Though we

ORGANISATION JOJ

have gone into the details of the organisation of this
committee yet this is a matter of detail and we do not
press for the rigidity of the same. Our fmain purpose
in giving these details is simply to indicate the lines
upon which the organisation should work.

So far the Governments have considered an
I.C.S. Officer to be the best for the purpose. He
may be a very good administrator but he has no knowl-
edge of the intricacies of business nor can he enter into
die sentiment of the people to visualise their diffi-
culties. Besides this he is quietly transferred to another
department as soon as he begins to pick up the de-
tails. We strongly feel that trie development of in-
dustries is only possible if businessmen are appointed
on this responsible post. The post of a Director of
Industries must be considered to be an honour for a
non-official business man so that he may consider his
reputation at stake while taking up that job, and it
should not be filled permanently, so that new blood
is always transfused and the aevelopment docs not
die for want of initiative. The selection of this im-
portant personality is the pivot of our organisation.
If right type of man is appointed and on temporary
basis, say for a period varying from 3 to 5 years, half
of the battle will be won. We lay special emphasis
on the selection of the Director of Industries. All
our attempts for development will fall flat if right type
of man is not selected.

Under the Director of Industries we have appoint-
ed a few Deputy Directors to be incharge or differ-
ent lines of work, which will have to be taken up by
the Department* The above table gives the detailed
activities of the different Deputy Directors, still few
words may not be out of place as a sort of elucidation.

The first and the most important activity is the
method of controlling finances, specially the accounts
side of it. In business, immediate steps will have to be
taken with very far-reaching effects, but if on account

IO4 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

of red-tape of the finance department these things are
not allowed to be done immediately, the business must
suffer. The Deputy Director In-Charge of finance,
therefore, should be given a free hand to a very great
extent so that he may take suitable steps at the proper
time, and the work may not be allowed to suffer.
There is no harm if the extent of financial liabilities
are fixed up but within that maximum he must have
a free hand in all matters concerning sales, purchases,
rewards, salaries, etc., etc.

Co-operative Societies will be another branch
under him. The present method of spoon-feeding and
control at every step in financial liabilities is perhaps
the greatest handicap in the working of co-operative
societies. Not to allow members to commit mistakes
and learn from these losses is the greatest hurdle.
We confess that to learn business by incurring losses
is a dangerous thing but, undoubtedly, this is the only
school wherein people are best trained.

In all Provinces Co-operation is a separate branch
from Industries, while we have amalgamated both
these functions under one Deputy Director. We
have purposely done so.

There have been many cases where the Registrar of
Co-operative Societies and the Director of Industries
have not seen eye to eye with one another and in the
struggle of these two officials, co-operative societies
have considerably suffered. Cases are not unknown
where parallel co-operative societies are formed (/') under
the Co-operative Department and (//') under the Director
of Industries to do the same type of work. In such
parallel societies instead of good rivalry being set up,,
work has considerably suffered. We want to avoid
such an eventuality.

Co-operation is simply a system of work and not
a business in itself. The work of the Cooperative
Department should be restricted to the formation of a
society for certain purposes and the observation of

ORGANISATION IOJ

certain rules, by which societies should be governed.
If we make the Co-operative Department responsible
for the entire working of the society, we presume the
Co-operative Department to be an expert Department
for all walks of life. For want of suitable personnel
to run a business, co-operative societies have badly
suffered. The success of business depends less on the
system but much more on the soundness of the pro-
position taken up by the undertaking and the method
in which the business is controlled. By placing all
types of co-operative societies under the Co-operative
Department we commit the mistake of handing over
the business and the investigation of its soundness in
the hands of those who are ill-qualified for it.

It may not be out of place to sound a note of warn-
ing for the guidance of the Deputy Director. The
work of purchases and sale and standardising of the
products, etc., will be taken up by co-operative socie-
ties. For good working of societies we shall require
men of tact and business ability, which can only be
acquired by proper training. Every educated man is
not suitable for every job. We wish that boys of
workmen themselves be trained to perform these func-
tions or qualified, shrewd people from amongst the
workers themselves be selected. Educational quali-
fication should not be the criterion for enrolment for
these jobs. Success will entirely depend upon the
confidence you create amongst the workers and that
will depend upon the right type of people employed
on the top.

The second Deputy Director will be in-charge
of Research and Education. Research and education
are entirely two different branches. While a little
work has been done for educating the workers, but no
research, worth the name, has been taken up by the
Industries Department. To employ a few qualified
persons without giving them any opportunity to keep
their knowledge up-to-date and call them experts for

106 COTTAGE AND SMAIX-SCAUS INDUSTRIES

all times is not a correct method of approach. There
must be a qualified staff to handle the problems spe-
cially of technical nature in all their details. These
research workers must be provided with the neces-
sary equipment and an up-to-date library. The Direc-
tor In-Charge of both these subjects must be a man of
high attainments and he must be able to guide and
organise the different functions entrusted to him.
Sufficient money ought to be placed at his disposal to
carry out his difficult task.

There are a few Industrial Schools run by the
Government. The greatest defect in these institu-
tions is that they have not been able to create dignity
of labour amongst their students and the teachers
themselves shirk from working with their own hands.
No method exists to refresh their training and to
imbibe the new methods adopted in other places.
Mutual exchange of ideas amongst teachers of differ-
ent provinces is never practised. Business men, in-
dustrialists and workmen from actual trade are never
brought in touch with institutions nor any system of
lecturing by practical experts exists.

There are industries which are worked both on big
as well as on small scale. There are very capable men
working in these industries and they can usefully help
these institutions if they are asked to prepare special
lectures for the students and workers occasionally*
Of course, they will have to be paid* There are no
museums attached to these schools where best patterns
of workmanship, both indigenous as well as foreign,
may be exhibited to create curiosity amongst students
ana visitors, nor any method to collect useful infor-
mation from books and journals for the guidance of the
students. The whole system requires overhauling and
reconstruction in order to make the institutions a place
of pilgrimage not only for students but for the best
artisan in that line. Isolation of teachers from trade
is another handicap. Regular meetings of workmen

ORGANISATION IOJ

should be organised and their criticism on the work of
students should be invited. Difficulties of workmen
should be heard, discussed and overcome. With
a sympathetic heart and with an air of friendship with
workers new improvements will be assured. It is not
the workmen themselves who will be benefited by
such an arrangement but the teachers themselves will
also learn a lot.

We have provided a third Deputy Director for in-
formation, publicity and propaganda. Under these
headings we have fixed up different functions, which
this officer is expected to do.

Unless and until there is created a link through
which the Indian worker is given the necessary infor-
mation about his colleague in foreign countries very
little headway can be made.

We wish the readers may study Bangle Industry
of Firozabad, and, we are sure, they will at once be con*
vinced of the possibilities of development. The bangle
makers of Firozabad without going to foreign coun-
tries and without any help from the so-called Govern-
ment experts, studied the details of the foreign articles
and have themselves been able to manufacture varie-
ties which were unknown before and through processes
evolved by them, which are simple, ingenious and
effective. By keeping in touch with the development
in foreign countries we shall be able to widen the
outlook of our workers and give them a chance of
utilising their experience, skill and knowledge to produce
a new material.

The fourth Director will be in charge of museums
and miscellaneous functions. We have not elucidated
his functions in detail as it will be the result of the
future development and will depend upon actual work-
ing of this organisation.

If the above organisation is brought into being,
we are sure, the work of the development of cottage
industries will be systematically organised and cottage

I08 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

industries will be placed on sound footing. Per*
manent staff will be trained and we shall be helping the
workers at every step and thus will be placing in their
hands enough money by which their standard of living
will be raised and industries will become prosperous.

PART II

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

In Part I we have discussed the question of the
importance of cottage industries, and their advantages
and disadvantages. In this part we shall try to give
a short description of different industries, which are
already in existence so that the extent and importance
of cottage industries may be' brought home to the
public and they may be in a position to understand
as to how many persons are affected by this type of
employment. We shall try to avoid the technical
details of different industries, unless and until we find
it necessary in order to convince the readers about the
easy development of any of them.

It is unfortunate that in spite of the fact that a
good many surveys of cottage industries have been
taken up by different provinces, and.reports on them have
been published, there is still very meagre information
about the number of persons employed tnerein and the
extent of annual production of these industries. In
spite of the fact that very little encouragement has been
given for their development and in spite of the fact
that the leaders of public opinion ana the financiers
have not trial to give them as much help as
they ought to have the production of these indus-
tries far exceeds the production of articles manu-
factured in big-scale industries. Of course, as far
as the number of people employed is concerned, it
will always remain to be far larger than that in organised
big industries. If we were once convinced that we can
ever be able to give employment to our huge population
of our country who have to be diverted from agriculture,

UO COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

we would have ncyet stressed the need of the develop-
ment of cottage industries. Cottage industries not
only provide the greatest employment but they affect
the economic position of the people in general.

In this description we have knowingly avoided
to mention those important centres where cottage
industries are carried on, as we fear, that it would have
given an impression that barring these centres such
industries have no important position in the economy
of the country as a whole. We have mentioned only
a few places simply to emphasise the extensive scale
upon which such industries are followed in a parti-
cular locality.

In this part we have also avoided the details of the
possibilities of new industries which are allied to those
already described, as we think that such a procedure
will confuse the reader and they will not be able to
concentrate themselves upon new industries. We have,
therefore, decided to follow this course in Part III,
wherein we have only selected those industries which
can easily be introduced as they have already been success-
fully tried, on a small scale in foreign countries. Readers,
therefore, will excuse us if we have adopted this course
of description. Perhaps, it would have been a more
complete method of description if we would have des-
cribed, for instance, new industries connected with leather
under leather trade. But this would not have given
a complete picture of the difficulties with which we
shall be confronted nor could the difficulties which under
those industries will have to be developed be fiilly ex-
plained. For new industries, a different type of or-
ganisation, training and education may be required
and all these, if mixed up with those already existing
will not clear out the points as completely as they would
do if a separate place is assigned to them.

TEXTILE
Textile is one of the oldest industries o the country

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES lit

and though it has suffered vicissitudes from time ta
time, it still gives employment to a very large number
of people. Mahatma Gandhi has singled out this in-
dustry and has laid the greatest stress upon it. The
work, however, is full of difficulties inasmuch as a
cottage worker has to compete against the most orga-
nised industry in the country. After a perusal of the
description of this trade given in books of history,
one is surprisingly convinced about the wonderful
capacity of the artisan in his having remained in this
trade against heavy odds and his having survived
onslaughts of the most devastating nature,

It is miraculous that cottage weaver has defied
the huge organisation of textile industry not only in,
India but also in Ireland, Germany and other countries.
Much against our wish we shall try to give a very short
description of this industry in its different phases.

GINNING AND CARDING

The first stage in the production of cloth is the
ginning of cotton. In olden days cotton was ginned
in every village, but now the industry has almost dis-
appeared. It is now followed only cither when the
cultivator requires small quantities of lint for his own
use or wishes to keep the cotton seed for next culti-
vation. In some villages the cultivator still gins by hand
in order to supply his cattle with this important feed.
However, it is not an important indusuy. In places
where electricity may be made available the introduc-
tion of small gins may be advantageously made use of
and it will give some money to the cultivator instead
of selling his cotton. He will begin to sell ginned cot*
ton and utilise die seed for cattle feed. We suggest,
therefore, that this industry should be organised when
the introduction of cheap electricity is included in the
future programme of the Government

Girding, though not as efficient as done by
machine, is followed in every village. It is quite an.

II Z COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

inexpensive method and we hope will survive for card-
ing lint, stuffing the winter clothing and supplying
for hand-spinning.

SPINNING

For the preparation of yarn, spinning is the first
stage whether we use cotton, wool, silk, hemp, jute
or any other fibre as our raw material.

Before the machine age dawned, India was export-
ing cotton clothes to France, England and many other
foreign countries. Even after the machine age started it
required an organised effort both from the British Gov-
ernment in England and in India to stop our cloth ex-
port. It was a fashion to wear Indian-made cloth specially
among ladies and the fashion could not die out till the
wearers were punished with fine and imprisonment.
We need not go into the old sad history of the methods
adopted to achieve this end. This will not help us in
any way, in our present attempt, to revive the industry.

Nobody can hold that a spinner, if he works for
the whole day on his job, is likely to get a living wage
even at a rate the All India Spinners' Association has
decided to give. But it must be admitted that the
women folk generally, and infirm and old ladies parti-
cularly cannot utilise their time for anything more
usefully. Even before Mahatma Gandhi gave the
fillip to hand -spinning, the industry existed to a small
extent. Hand-spun yarn was utilised for different
types of clothes in villages. Thick woven doth re-
quired for transporting grain, fodder and other agri-
cultural commodities was woven from the hand-spun
yarn almost in every village. Garnets were mostly
woven out of this yam. Mahatma Gandhi decided to
identify himself with the poor and distributed money
by means of organising hand-spinning and weaving in
ihe countryside. We need not enter into the details
of economics of this industry as it is admitted that it
is an employment and not & paying proposition. But

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

nobody can deny that as an occupation nothing can
improve upon it. Since the time Mahatmaji has
made Khaddar wearing as a condition precedent for
the members of the Congress, there has been created
a class of spinners in the country. Mahatma Gandhi
visualises that all should spin enough for their own
needs, and one must leave purchasing cloth from out-
side. As the basis of this scheme is not on economic
grounds, spinning has not become common in the
country. Even ir the spun-yarn would have been as
strong as that of the mills, on account of its high
price it might not have been patronised by the people.
It must, however, be admitted that since the starting
of the All-India Spinners' Association the quality of
yarn has considerably improved but there is still a great
gap to be filled up. Since we do not think there will
ever come a time when we shall be able to clothe the
whole country with the hand-spun yarn we are afraid
the industry will not last long unless it is based on better
economic grounds. However, for the guidance of
workers in the fields, we offer a few suggestions for
their consideration.

As Mahatma Gandhi himself suggested the pre-
sent Charkha must be improved. It is a pity that,
in spite of a reward of a lac of rupees, an improved
Charkha could not be invented. We wish a further
frantic effort be made and the reward must be adver-
tised in all the countries of the world. No matter if
a higher reward may be found necessary. It seems
to be essential that the terms of competition should
be made as clear as possible, so that mechanically-
minded persons may be induced to compete.

If the organisers agree to change the principle of
Charkha the old spinning; jenny may be tried. We
learn that China has made considerable improvement
in the spinning-wheel. If so, it will be worth while
to COOT it* The War has ended and it will be quite
a feasible prpposition.

8

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

Further we propose the following other lines of
attack on the problem. Blending ot different types
of cotton, mixing of fibres other than cotton, chemical
treatment of cotton before turning to slivers, use of
some chemicals to keep cotton moist, and the improve-
ment of carding are some of the methods to be simul-
taneously tried along with the improvement of Charkha.
Experiments with machine-made slivers be made to find
out as to how far the quality and production are effected.
We do not claim any originality in these suggestions
but we throw them out for whatever they are worth.

Report about the survey on Cottage Industry in
the Madras Presidency has examined the question of
hand-spinning in a very great detail, and it would
not be out of place to give a few relevant points and
calculations below. The author has compared the cost
of spinning yarn of 10 and 40 counts both made by hand
and by mill as follows :

DETAILS OF COST FOR ics. BY HAND

Rs. as. p.

Four viss of unginned cotton . . . . . . . . i 8 o

Ginning Charges .. .. .. .. .. .. 036

x ii 6
Deduct cost of seed separated from 3 Vis. . . . . 060

i 5 *
Charges for carding and sliver making for i viss-3 Ibs. 030

i 8 6
Loss in carding ............ oio

196
Cost of yarn i viss or 3 Ibs i o o

296
Cost of 10 Ibs . . 8 12 o

The cost of mill-made yarn us. is about Rs. 6-4-0 to 6-8-0.
Difference in price is Rs. 2-8*0 pet 10 Ibs.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 1 1 f

(40 Hanks made i Ib. of the yarn in 40$.)

Rs. as. p.

Cost of cotton i. 1/8 Ib. including wastage . . . . 0120
Labour for spinning . . .. .. .. .. 280

Cost of i Ib. yarn . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

Value of i o Ibs. Hand-spun yarn .. .. .. 32 8 <>

Mill-made yarn 10 Ibs. costs . . . , . . ..1120-.

Difference in price 2160*

The difference in prices of mill and hand-
spun yarn was calculated in 1926 as follows :

Count of jam Price of band- spun jam Price of mi I I- spun y arm.

10 to 12 . . . . Re. -/i 3/- to -/i4/- Re. -/8/- to -/io/-

208 Re. 1/8 Less than Re. i/-

30$ Re. 1/14 Less than Re, 1/2

At present the difference, perhaps, would be much
more. The above statement makes another weakness
clear, that higher the counts the more is the difference*
This means that it may become some time business
proposition to spin lower counts while the spinning,
of higher counts will not pay.

In India people generally use cotton for stuffing
their beds and covers during winter season. After
the season in the next year cotton has to be changed.
In villages of U.P., and the Punjab and in other places the
quantity of used cotton available in this way is const*
aerable. Such cotton cannot be sold to the mills but
can with advantage be utilised for spinning coarse
yarn. Such yarn can be utilised for carpets, Durris^
Niwar and the like. This line, if organised, may give
employment to cottage worker without competition*
The same report has observed a few more weak point*
with which we agree. It points out the imperfection^
of the Charkha as follows:

1 16 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

i. Intermittent twisting and winding.
z. Necessity for the use of both hands.

3. Sraallness of output.

4. It attempts only one out of the several opera-
tions in the process of transformation of cotton
into yarn and there is no simultaneous arrange-
ment for carding, drawing, etc.

5. The yarn (cotton) spun on the Charkha does not
easily always stand the strain of fly-shuttle loom.

We hope these defects may be removed and their
removal may be a condition precedent for giving an
award to the improved wheel.

In spite of all the objections that can be raised
against hand-spinning there is a very pertinent advantage
in its favour which has been pointed out over and over
again by its advocates. They rightly remark that
"nobody can point out any better and easier employ-
ment for such a large population of the country."
Though at present hand-spinning is given the dignity
of labour and also a certain prestige by the nation, yet
hand -spinning was never considered to be a contemp-
tuous occupation. An idle brain is a devil's workshop
and to keep such a huge population without employ-
ment is to release the devilish force that idleness creates.
To avoid this disruptive force, is it not desirable that
the nation must pay a certain compensation? Look-
ing from that point of view, either you will have to
provide some better and more paying means of employ-
ment (which seems to be an impossibility) or pay tor it.
If the whole nation realises this important factor, they
should not mind paying a little more price to keep
the spinner employed even by paying a higher wage.

The author of the Madras Report has very well

put the whole thing in the following words. It says,

It should, however, add to the meagre earnings of the

ordinary agriculturist, if he takes to it for want of a

more suitable subsidiary occupation. Ordinarily he

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 1 17

grows his cotton, his women-folk are not alien to the art
of spinning and in the domestic economy, he finds his
coarse clothes more suitable to his taste and calling.
To the old and infirm and to those who could find no
better occupation, however meagre might be the
earnings, it is a substantial addition to the family income
and in the absence of more universally agreeable occu-
pation suitable to the social status of the different
classes of people hand -spinning has its own merit." It
goes on to say further, "There are other industries, for
instance coir spinning, palmyra plaiting, etc., which
bring no better income but arc still carried on and com-
pared to them hand-spinning is more homely and digni-
fied. The industry involves little initial outlay and
the mechanism of the Charkha is so simple that an ordi-
nary carpenter could prepare it without much labour.
Altnough the occupation may be monotonous, it does
not demand any physical strength beyond staying power.

Till the time an improvement is made in the Char-
kha it may be worth while to prohibit mill-made yarn for
the use of the following articles. This may encourage the
industry without in any way calling for a big sacrifice
from the people. Durris, carpets, Niwar ropes and
other such articles where either twist does not count or
which are very coarse. Imports of such articles from
foreign countries at the same time be prohibited.

Further a study may be made as to what best ca0
be made from hand-spun yarn. There may be several
articles found which may be added to the above list
with advantage. For instance, we learn from the
Bombay Report that some special type of yam was
made by Momin women and this was used for Zora
weaving. It has now been replaced by mill-made yarn
and these women are thrown out of employment.
Such encroachments should be avoided.
WEAVING

The greatest objection against the hand-spun
yam is thai it affects the profession of weaving

1 1 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

<juite considerably and we have no right to spoil the
economics of the weaver in forcing him to weave this
type of yarn. It must be admitted that hand-spun
yarn takes a longer time to weave and brings less income
to the weaver. When we consider the question of
spinner we should not lose sight of the weaver. If we
<:ould utilise all our weavers for weaving hand-spun
yarn and could pay them as much as they are now
paid by the Spinners' Association, we would have no
objection although the wages fixed by the All-India
Spinners' Association to the weaver cannot be said to
be adequate, but it may be recommended inasmuch
as it gives a regular income and the weaver is not ex-
ploited by any middle man. The other economic ob-
jection against cloth made from hand-spun yarn is that
it is costlier than mill-made cloth of the same count.
It lasts less and thus proves expensive in the long run.
It is only for the rich who can make use of it but the
poor cannot afford to have it.

In order, however, to develop the hand-spinning
industry without detriment to the weaving industry
we may state that Khaddar must be protected against
adulteration or competition by the mills. If such a
protection is granted and the nation takes to it, the
solution of employing the people to some extent may
:be found. Leaving Khaddar alone it must be admitted
that the weaver has managed to exist against big or-
ganised factories. If the middle man would not have
exploited him to his own ends he would have^ perhaps,
given the factories a successful pitched battle. A brave
soldier who has so far succeeded in fighting his glori-
ous battle must be helped, encouraged and protected.

It is a pity that the Review of the Trade of India
generally does not give information about cottage
industries though they are a great factor in trade, not
there is any arrangement to collect annual figures of
employment in cottage industries and their produc-
tion. There seems to be no reason as to why these

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

statistics be left for collection to the Provinces when-
ever they deem it to do so or they be collected only at the
time of census. When we find that the employment
the handloom industry provides is far in excess to mill
industry it is but necessary that the Government should
issue a special Review every year about cottage indus-
tries and if they so desire they may compare it with
mill industry.

We give below some figures from the Facts Finding
Committee about the employment and production of
handloom industry in India:

The number of active looms is about 17 lacs out
of which more than 2,65,000, i.e., 13% looms are re-
ported to be idle. Out of these looms 14,00,000, i.e., 72%
are engaged in weaving cotton textile, 99,000 looms,
i.e., 5% in wool, 3,71,000, i.e., 16% in silk 25,000 or
i% in artificial silk and 1,00,000, i.e., 6% in other
textile mixtures.

As regards the quality of the looms employed
64% are throw shuttle looms, 3 5 % Fly shuttle looms
and i% of other categories.

The number of weavers is 14, 34,000 whole-time and
7,47,000 part-time. The total being 24,00,000 (includ-
ing 1,75,000 estimated for smaller states). The number
of paid assistants was 2,53,000 and unpaid 25,73,000.
Thus the total number of people employed comes to
60 lacs. In addition to these there are the dependents
whose number cannot be l^ss than 40 lacs. Assuming
that each of the 24 lacs of Weavers has to support be-
sides himself 3 persons on an average the total popu-
lation depending on the industry must be, according
to the above report, round about 10 millions or one
crore. The total value of hand-woven cloth accord-
ing to the Committee in 1939 works out to 72*80
ctores, Cotton cloth 47 crores, silk ij crores, arti-
ficial silk 4 crores and wool 3 crores.

Total production of mill-made cloth in 19 36^57
comes to 3,220 million yards against 1,26; million

110 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

yatds from handlooms. According to the above re-
port the mill-made cloth has replaced the imports
and not the handloom cloth. Handlooms give em-
ployment to four-fifths of the total number of workers
employed in the cotton textile industry. The cotton
textile industry employs only 5 lacs workers of whom a
considerable number of workers are employed in spin-
ning mills producing yarn for the handloom. Thus
although to-day mills are producing 68% of the total
cloth they employ only a fifth of the total number of
workers in the cotton textile industry.

The same report, however, regrets that the fall in
earnings of the weavers has been tremendous during
the last ten years and in certain cases it is as high as
80%.

The greatest weakness in handloom weaving,
however, is that it uses the mill-made yarn and yet had
ultimately to compete with the mills. You cannot
rely upon a weapon made in your enemy's factory.
The mill industry can at any time stop the supply or
raise the price of the yarn to a pitch that it no more
remains a business proposition for the weaver to
prepare cloth. It is true that there are a few mills
which simply spin, but do not weave. But their num-
ber is very small and if the spinning and weaving mills
will ever think of raising the price of the yarn, these
mills will willingly do so and will like to make higher
profits. Of course, it will always be a paying propo-
sition for a spinning and weaving mill to raise the price
of yarn and lower the price of cloth to drive out the
competitor from the field. Not only the mills can
raise the price of yarn but they may refuse to supply
sufficient yarn. Besides the above difficulties yarn
becomes expensive on account of freight charges*
octroi duty and middleman's profit. At least two
middlemen are employed by the mills. In small
places there may yet be a third middleman. To add to
the trouble sometimes the yarn is less in weight, less

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES IZl

in number of hanks and lower in counts. The weaver
who generally purchases on credit has to suffer know-
ingly these disadvantages. In this country all such
cases are governed by the general law of cheating and
the Government has not seen its way to organise a
civil police to protect the citi2ens from such decep-
tive practices. Cheating in this way is rampant and
there being no check, honest man always suffers. We
wish some legislative measures be adopted to check
such malpractices.

The other greatest weakness of the weaver is his
financial position. He has no security to offer against
credit. He is too poor and indigent. His position
has become so hopeless that he has lost his honesty also.
He lives a fatalist life and tries somehow to drag on.
The middleman from whom he purchases his raw
material charges a higher price in the first instance and
supplies him inferior article. Since he has no security
against his advances, the dealer forces him to sell the
finished product to himself alone, and thereby also
deprives the weaver of getting a good wage. The
weaver is unable to wait and has to dispose of his cloth
at any price. Thus the dealer profits at both ends.
On account of this difficulty there has arisen a class
of dealers who supply the yarn, give the design and pur-
chase the cloth. This method gives the weaver a
regular income but the cream of trade goes to the
middleman. It has been proved by several survey
reports that whenever the price of handloom clotn
goes down middleman's profits are not affected.
Wages are only lowered in such a case. Some middle-
men have started their own factories wherein they
arrange for the tools and the weavers are required to
work either on daily wages or on piece work. In
these places also the poor man is exploited.

The only solution to overcome this difficulty,
as we have pointed out elsewhere, is to start spinning
factories for the weavers. These concerns may be

112 COTTAGE AND SMALfc-SCALE INDUSTRIES

limited companies but the profit made by them should
not exceed a certain figure. They should supply yarn
to the weaver at fixed prices. Marketing of finished
products should also be organised. The smaller the
spinning unit the better, so that they may be located
at number of places to avoid transport charges. Un-
less this is done, handloom will not be able to hold
its own.

Handloom industry produces all types of cloth
from the coarsest to the finest and it may be true to say
that if the Indian Mills only supply all types of yarns,
plain as well as coloured, no weaving mill need func-
tion in the country. The handloom weavers will
supply the entire need and the industry will be very
well distributed throughout India. Perhaps, there
may remain the necessity of finishing cloth, as we have
stated elsewhere. That being so, is it not desirable
in national interests to see that such an industry is not
allowed to disappear ?

Weavers, in spite of being illiterate and not being
helped by the scientists to give up-to-date ideas, are
keen and alert to take to new designs and at times,
they have produced artistic and beautiful cloth. All
this proves that they are neither conservatives nor ob-
livious to progress.

There are many special advantages available to
the handloom industry and these have allowed the
weaver to exist in spite of the disaster that has visited
him so often. The first and the foremost advantage
is the display of colours which mills cannot easily do.
Secondly, handloom weaver can interweave the cloth
with gold and silver threads and he can easily beautify
the borders. Thirdly, the handloom weaver can weave
any width and size to suit his customer's requirements.
Or course, he can hold his own easy in weaving coarse
doth of low counts, as we have stated elsewhere.

Now looking to the importance of the industry as
well as to the fact that it gives the greatest employment

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

to the people, it seems to be desirable to protect the
weaver against the organised textile industry. It is a
pity that the mill-owners do not realise the necessity
of the principle of "live and let live* and they decry all
attempts for protection. They quietly forget that the
mill industry has survived not on account of their or-
ganisation, but more so by the sacrifice that the people
of this country have made by boycotting foreign
goods and patronising Indian mill-made cloth. Tne
country has also, at times, suffered financially in levying
the protective duty both on yarn and cloth.

The question of protecting the handloom industry
against mill industry has been investigated in the re-
port of the Bombay Economic and Industrial Survey
Committee in 1938 of which the well-known indus-
trialist, Sir Purushottam Das Thakur Das, Kt. was the
Chairman. On page 1 5 6, the Report says, "Represen-
tatives of the Bombay and Ahmedabad Mill Owners*
Association attempted to prove by reference to statis-
tics of mill production, imports, the estimated hand-
loom production, etc., that the organised cotton tex-
tile industry was mainly competing with the products
of similarly organised foreign textile industries and not
with those of the local handloom weavers. We are
unable to accept this contention in toto. There is no
doubt that the mill product whether imported or in-
digenous, has been steadily encroaching on what used
to be the handloom weaver's preserve and the most
recent example of such penetration is in the field of wo-
men's clothing. It may be true that the mills are not
making saris and khans exactly of the kind which the
handlooms make, but they are certainly making saris
and bodice cloth which women have for various reasons
taken to wearing in preference to the handloom variety.
The representatives of various Handloom Weavers'
Association such as those of Brihan Maharashtra
Weavers' Association, Karnatak Weavers' Association,
The Industrial Co-operative Association, Ahmadaagar;

124 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

The Industrial Co-operative Association Hubli, etc.,
bitterly complained of this competition and some of
them suggested the imposition of a duty on mill cloth,
while others pleaded for a statutory division of the tex-
tile market between the mill industry and the hand-
loom weaving industry. We are unable to consider
these suggestions in detail and make our recommenda-
tions thereon, because we are convinced that unless
power is obtained to control imports effectively, any
such action may result in benefit to neither the local
handloom weaving industry nor the local mill industry*
Moreover, the organised mill not located only in this
Province and any action taken by the Provincial Govern-
ment may only result in loss to the local mill industry
without any advantage to the handloom weavers.
Finally all such actions restrictive in some measure or
other of the activity of large-scale industries inevitably
raise inter-provincial and inter-state questions which
cannot be solved by the unilateral action of a single
Provincial Government. In our opinion the question
of regulating the activities of large-scale industries
particularly the textile industry which compete with
cottage industries is a subject which cannot be decided
upon by the Bombay Government and we recommend
that this question should be referred by the Bombay
Government to a Special Conference of the representa-
tives of the Government of India and the other Pro-
vinces and State Governments in the country and Pro-
vincial action should follow the lines of an agreed
policy that such a conference may adopt. We would
like at the same time to record our opinion that in
case powers are obtained to control imports as suggest-
ed above and an agreement is obtained from the other
Provincial and State Governments on the matter of the
regulation of large-scale industries compering with
cottage industries, some regulation of the kind referred
to above particularly a division of the market accom-
panied by a duty, if necessary, to prevent the encroach-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES IZJ

mcnt of the mill market into the handloom market
offers a possible solution. We think, however, that
the whole question should be examined in all its various
aspects by the Conference the convening of which by
the Bombay Government we have recommended
above."

The Report could not decide this question simply
because it was not a Provincial matter. It the Committee
would have been organized by Government of India,
some method of protecting the handloom industry
might have been found. Since it has been admitted
that there exists competition between the mill and the
handloom industry, and that the latter is far weaker than
the former, it is but necessary that the Government of
India should come to the help of the latter.

It should now be agreed that there exists a com-
petition between the handloom and mill industry and
that competition can only be avoided by Government
intervention inasmuch as the handloom weavers are
not organised and they are, therefore, unable to place
their grievances before the Government. Besides they
compete blindly amongst themselves and so cannot easily
combine and add to it the disadvantage of using the
mill-made yarn for their cloth production.

Without going into more details we propose that a
legislation should be enacted to prohibit the Indian mill
industry not to encroach upon the field of handloom in-
dustry. The entire field of production should be divid-
ed amongst the handloom and mill industries and certain
counts should not be woven by the mills and should be ex-
clusively left for the handloom industry. Similarly the
mill industry should be prohibited from encroachment
upon the field of production which has remained
the main province of the handloom industry. In cases
where the protection has to be granted against die import
of certain counts of yarns from foreign countries, wnich
may be mostly used by the handloom industry, the in-
terest of hancjloom industry should not be ignored. In

126 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

cases where the protection is necessary, a rebate should
be allowed to hold the production from this imported
yarn or some other method may be evolved, so that
the industry may not be killed in order to protect the
mill industry.

In all future developments of textile industry only
new spinning mills should be allowed to be erected and
the existing mills must be forced to set apart a certain
percentage of yarn to be sold as such. In no case weav-
ing looms in the existing mills be allowed to increase.
The recent restriction proposed by the Government of
India is not enough.

The tastes of the people always change and equip-
ments and methods are found out to cater any such
changes. Due to these changes number of methods
have been evolved in finishing the cloth in an attractive
manner. We cannot expect from handloom weavers to
employ all these means in the manufacture of their goods.
It is one of the great handicaps on account of which
handloom industry has suffered in competition with
the factory-made cloth. It has, therefore, been suggest-
ed under a different heading, and in a separate fist in
the body of this book that the finishing of cloth should
be organised, where all cloth prepared by handloom
should first go before it is marketed. We do not want
to duplicate the same idea here.

Since handloom gives far more employment to the
people than factories we must help the weavers and
grant them protection both against foreign and internal
competition.

Printingof Cloth It is an important cottage industry
which has developed in different localities. Some of
our prints are in demand in foreign countries and orders
are always repeated. If the industry is well organised
here is a room for the activities of both the middleman
as well as for the worker. In order to capture the foreign
market, however, it is essential that our goods be stand-
ardised, and a strict control to keep the exported article

DESCRIPTION OP EXISTING INDUSTRIES

of a certain standard be maintained without which we
cannot preserve our reputation.

There is need of improvement both in technique
and supply of raw material specially the colours and
mordants. If the cheap method of paper stencils be in-
troduced as in Japan, designs can be varied at will and
the production will become cheaper. Printing is a
chemical process and it requires more knowledge of
chemical reaction than possessed by our workmen or
organisers. We also require travellers to go about and
study the taste of the people and advise the designers to
change their designs accordingly. Laws and rules must
be framed by which a new design may easily be protected.
There is, unfortunately, cut-throat competition amongst
the dealers and we know that in cutting prices middleman
seldom suffers, but the poor worker is always hit hard.
Some sort of association to avoid undue competition be
formed and its authority be recognised by law as has
been done in case of sugar and cement.

Production of designs cultivates a special aesthetic
taste. We recommend that along with ordinary drawing,
such useful and economic drawing should be taught to
our children in schools. If it is properly done we may
be able to produce many young persons specially girls
who can earn a decent living by providing designs and
selling them. To employ Government experts who are
likely to lose their initiative after some time is a poor
attempt in this line.

Fastness of colour and type of cloth used are very im~
portant factors in trade and it seems to be desirable that
some arrangement of certifying the grade and quality of
the articles sold should be printed on every piece before
it goes for sale. There has already been started decep-
tion in this respect and if not checked the industry will
be ruined. Arrangement for grading and certifying
of goods meant for export should at once be introduced.

Carpet Manufarture It has a great future but thit
trade is entirely disorganised. A great deal has to be

128 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

done in the blending of different fibres; the effect of
colour has to be studied and the worker has to be
provided with cheap raw material which can cheaply
DC secured from many sources. Standardising the
quality can help much in increasing sales and consump-
tion. We have an assured market both in India and
abroad, provided the sale is organized and quality gua-
ranteed. Perhaps only in Hyderabad State an effective
arrangement to develop carpet industry has been made.
Government has established an experimental carpet
factory in Wardugal an old centre for this industry.
Number of looms now has increased from 87 to 350
and now rugs and carpets to the value of Rs. 1,20,000
have been exported in 1943 against the previous export
of Rs. 30,000 only. Best carpets are said to be
produced here.

Strings & Ropes Cotton strings and ropes are used
for tents, nose-strings for cattle and for number of other
things. They are made from cotton yarn waste and also
from cotton yarn. Both plain and coloured strings are
made. In fancy strings, variety of colours is displayed.
In some places people have tried to manufacture waist
strings. They have been prepared in mixed colours and
in their manufacture a mixture of cotton, jute and silk
yarn has been used. There is a scope for this industry
to develop and many more users can be found for these
articles.

Fish Nets It is an important industry carried on
mostly near sea-coasts or big rivers. Though generally
the work is done by the fishermen themselves but still it
gives employment to many people. In other countries,
beautiful nets of different sizes are used by ladies to tie
their hairs with. They are also used along with their
hats. Nets with thinner spacing are also used as covers.
Japan docs a brisk cx|x>it trade in this line.

Hosiery It is an important article of trade. We
shall discuss the subject under a separate heading.

JFi/Ar Clotb It is another line which jis successfully

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 129

carried on in Cawnpore and other places. It can easily
develop if after a proper study of the type of weave, sizes
and counts are standardised. Since quantity required
is very small we hope full use of this line will be made by
cottage workers. Cottage industry can only succeed if
we strive to produce quality cloth to serve the purpose
for which it is meant.

Cotton Cleaning In Bombay there arc many people
who purchase waste cotton from the mills and clean it.
After cleaning it is sold and poor people employ it in
stuffing their beds, etc. In other places cotton waste is
either burnt or dumped as manure. By inventing a cheap
contrivance we can utilise this waste material and can
employ some people with advantage. Ordinarily there
are waste cotton plants attached to mills where waste
cotton is cleaned and spun for low counts.

Tape Weaving It is an allied industry which has
assumed a special importance in Ahmedabad for its
supply to the mill-made cloth. This industry can easily
develop at all those places where cotton mills are work-
ing. Besides depending upon the mill industry it can
stand upon its own merits and many new designs can be
manufactured to suit the taste of the people. There seems
to be a big scope for this industry. The equipment
needed for the industry is quite inexpensive ana women
in the family can easily follow it up in their leisure hours.
Artistic designs may be made by mixing cotton thread
with silk and metal threads.

Niwar Weaving It is another allied industry of
weaving. Practically in all cities manufacture of Niwar is
very common. Coloured and plain Niwar is prepared and
sold almost everywhere. Coarse yarn is mostly used for
this article and this industry may, therefore, be a help in
the production of hand-spun yarn. During the War this
industry was given a good impetus and we hope it will
pay if an enquiry be made as to the purpose this article
can serve in the foreign market. There seems to
be thus a possibility of establishing an export market.

130 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

There has developed recently a new industry of
preparing cotton cloth patties of 9" to i z" in width which
serve as screens when stitched together. Many designs
in these patties are produced to make them attractive.

Swing Thread. It is a cottage industry and must be
kept as such. Unless scientific methods are introduced
and up-to-date appliances are made this industry will
not survive.

WOOL

After cotton textile, wool occupies the next place.
Woollen industry of Kashmir and other places has a
marked place in Indian economy. The industry, however,
has remained static while the world had gone a great deal
forward and our products, though pure, are unable to
compete with foreign products. Though Science has
evolved many a new fibre natural wool has still its own
place. There is a great scope for this industry and it
can give employment to a very large number of people.
We should remember that there are about two and a
half crores of sheep in the country and the total quantity
of wool produced is quite considerable.

First we should concentrate upon wool production
of the right type. As wool is a natural product breeding
of sheep plays an important part. Fortunately we
possess a breed which can subsist on very scanty
pastures. It is a very hardy animal It is admitted that
by proper feeding the quality of wool is improved. Un-
fortunately, we do not know what feeds are suitable
for this purpose. Besides very little work is done in
producing better type of animal. Woollen mills, which
ought to have taken, keen interest in the production
of wool, are satisfied with imported wool and they seem
to take little interest in wool production. Government
seems to be indifferent and has done very little in this
direction. The entire work is in the hands of illiterate
and poor people who somehow pass their days by tak-
ing their flocks from place to place for grazing. Their

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES IJI

methods are crude and primitive and require a great
deal of improvement.

There are very cold places in India where only wool
can protect the people from icy cold atmosphere though
it is true that in a large part of the country ordinary
cotton stuffed covers may replace woollen blankets but
even in these places woollen blankets are the only shelter
against rains. The necessity of wool improvement*
therefore, cannot be minimised. The large imports in
woollen goods to the tune of 12 lacs of pound a year is a
clear indication of the possibility of the development
of this commodity.

Leaving the possibility of the improvement of the
breed in the hands of the agriculturists let us begin from
the stage wool is clipped from the animal.

In spite of the small production of wool per animal
we waste a lot of wool in clipping. If instead of clip-
ping by hand-shears we employ an up-to-date clipping
machine we can increase the supply of wool by at least
10 percent., and can produce wool of a more uniform
nature and quality. Clipping machines may be intro-
duced on hire-purchase system or the clippers may be
appointed to do the job.

After the clip is made wool must be sorted. Wool
all over the body is never of the same quality. Some
parts give finer wool than others. Again some por-
tions have longer wool than the rest. Simply by proper
grading of wool at this stage, value and price of wool may
be enhanced by about 25 per cent. It will not be a small
gain over the total quantity of wool that we produce-
each year. Training centres can be started for this pur-
pose. This improvement will only pay if an arrangement
of marketing of wool is properly made and the sale is
not left in the hands of middlemen who are only in-
terested in their commission. By this means not only a
better price will be obtained but the coarser varieties;
will be utilised for coarser cloth and finer ones for better
doth. The grading may also be made as regards colour

1 32 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

which may be an important factor for some localities.
The younger the animal the finer the wool and this
factor may be considered in gradation.

Spinning Spinning of wool gives some employ-
ment to the people but the method is both crude and
expensive. Most of the Gadaryas (sheep owners) make
their own yarn by twisting on wooden spool. This
yarn is uneven and thick and is only usable for the
production of rough blankets used by poor people. Yarn
spun on Charkha is used to some extent for making
tweeds and Pattoos. For making Lohis and Shawls
yarn is generally imported from foreign countries. All
power or handlooms generally employ mill-made yarn.
In Amritsar alone as many as 850 power looms prepare
articles made from imported yarn, which mostly used
to come from Japan. We need not point out that
Japan produces very little wool and mostly used Aus-
tralian wool for the manufacture of yarn. If it pays
Japan to import wool from Australia and then turn it
into yarn ana export it to India why it should not pay us
to make yarn in India from Australian wool.

Cheap woollen articles made from shoddy mostly
in Italy and Poland flood the Indian market and depress
the Indian trade to the disadvantage of the cottage
worker. Import duties can only help if we begin to
employ scientific and up-to-date methods. We consider
there is a need for number of factories in India for the
preparation of yarn both from indigenous and imported
wool. If the proper type of carding, cleaning, etc.,
is arranged and yarn is prepared in the country, we
need not depend much on foreign imports, We can
also employ shoddy just as they use in other countries
and can mix with other fibres to produce as good and
cheap articles as are being imported.

Out main weakness in the production of woollen
cloth is the production of yarn and we should not lose
any more time in starting woollen spinning mills.

were surprised to learn that even "in Kashmir

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES IJ5

people import yarn from foreign countries and
prepare goods from that yarn and pass them off as
Kashmiri cloth. Is it not better to produce yarn our-
selves and thus to save our hard-earned money in the
bargain ? We do not see any other solution of the
problem. It is true that wool spinning will improve
by proper treatment and better carding. Still for finer
yarn we shall have to employ spinning mills.

Weaving The yarn is peg warped and sized with
starch made of tamarind seed and occasionally with
wild onions. At places it is dyed with alizarine dyes to
produce different colours.

Weaving is done on ordinary looms. Mostly blank-
ets known as Cumblis are woven and sold as such.
They are generally very rough. Before they are sold
they are milled by the following processes. The Cum-
blis are spread out on a country cot with roughly woven
ropes and four men standing on either side in pairs rub
the blankets, after they have been folded, backwards
and forwards across the cot, hot water being poured
on it all the time to keep it wet. This process relts the
fibre and is repeated four or five times for each fold of the
blanket with the result that the superfluous wool is rub-
bed off and the blanket no longer shows holes in it.
There is considerable shrinkage oy this process.

Greatest help can be given to this industry by the
introduction of carding, milling and fibre-raising
machines. During the War such machines have been
introduced with advantage and we think these improve*
ments must continue. Government opened centres
where blankets could be prepared for the Army. Main
work was done in U.P., Punjab, N.-W.F.P., Patiala State
and other provinces and States. In U.P. alone about
two and half lakh of blankets were annually supplied.
It is a pity that just after the War the Government
experts could not continue the effort and were satisfied
only by closing these centres.

Pile Carpets Besides blankets pile carpets is another

JJ4 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

old industry. It is said that these carpets were very
much encouraged from the time of Akbar the Great.
Unfortunately since i9th century the industry had a set
back. Carpets, however, are still manufactured in
Kistna, Moslipattam and Conjeevaram and other places.
Mostly dead wool is used for the purpose. The dyeing
of wool is generally done by the weavers themselves.

Patios and Shawls In Kashmir Pattos, shawls,
tweeds, lohis and blankets of very fine quality are made.
The place is extremely suited for the development of
the industry. The All-India Spinners' Association has
organised all the weavers and spinners in the whole of
the State and the workers have given a great encourage-
ment to this industry. We are, however, sorry to say
that sufficient attention is not paid towards the technical
improvement of the industry. It is desirable that
up-to-date scientific knowledge should be adopted and
both chemical and mechanical improvements should
be introduced so that most of the weavers may not have
to depend upon the imported yarn for their living. We
consider that by starting carding, spinning, fulling and
milling mill of a modern type a great deal can be done
to help the industry.

Namda Manufacture is an important article of sale.
The imported article is far too superior. Arrangement
of making Namda of the right type be made.

Felt. Woollen felt is required in large quantities
in paper and straw-board mills and since the supply
will remain limited the industry can succeed on a cottage
scale. Attempt should be made to manufacture these
articles.

Since the time Italy began to manufacture artificial
wool a number of fibres which look like wool and whose
touch is better than wool have been evolved. These
fibres are far cheaper than the natural produce. In
future articles made of these artificial fibres will flow
in our markets and it is time that we make arrangements
to produce all artificial fibres in our Country. Oil

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 13 J

cake is the main material for many of these fibres and
we abound in oil cakes. Vegetable protein can also
be prepared from many other wild and cultivated plants.
If we start the industry we shall be able to utilise our raw
material, give employment to many and will guard
against the future ruination of our industry.

SILK

Silk is an old and important fibre. India is the only
country where a large variety of worms are employed
to produce fibre for weaving. Besides silk, Endi and
Munga are other important silk fibres. World has done
a lot of investigation in the rearing of the worm, but
we have not taken advantage of the improvements.
Perhaps the greatest attention has been devoted to this
industry in the Mysore State. There a large population
is engaged in the rearing of the worm. Next important
place is Madras, then come Bengal and Kashmir.
Though India was famous for its silk but yet it could
not stand the competition from Japan and China.
Gradually the production dwindled considerably.
According to Tariff Board 1940, there were only
105 weaving establishments in 1937 employing 4,700
workers , but in these establishments mostly imported
silk was employed. The total production of raw silk
was only 6 lac pounds. It is generally consumed by
handloom weavers .

Mysore State realised that there can be no better
subsidiary occupation for the agriculturists than the
rearing of silk cocoons and prepare silk out of it. Kol-
legal Taluka in Madras being near to Mysore State took
it up and started the industry without any special help
from the Government. Here is a clear instance of peo-
ple adopting a new industry provided they are once con-
vinced of the profitableness of the same. In 1928 in
this Taluka there were 10,200 acres under mulberry cul-
tivation, while the total area under cultivation was
90,000 acres. . The employment of such a huge area for

I } 6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

this purpose clearly proves that an agriculturist
is really dying for a subsidiary occupation and
will adopt it if once he is satisfied of the utility of follow-
ing such a course. This gives a lie to those who always
preach the conservatism of the agriculturists. Silk-
worm rearing thus has become a regular business of
the cultivator in the above place.

Below is another instance as to what can be achieved
by the Government help. During the War parachute
cloth was an essential War need and fortunately for that
purpose only pure silk could be used. The whole
government machinery was moved to find a solution.
Raw silk available in Bengal, Kashmir, Madras and
Mysore was neither sufficient nor silk could be properly
twisted by crude Charkha. Attempts were at once made
to remove these defects. Improved machines were
imported and afterwards made in the country.

It is only during the last War that right type of silk
has begun to be produced. The Government started
their attempt in 1941, and in 1942 there were 5,500 new
basins installed to produce filature silk suitable for para-
chute manufacture. In Kollegal alone 500 basins capable
of proding 1,50,000 pounds of reeled silk annually were
installed. In Bengal 1,500 basins we placed by the
private people from loan advanced by the Government
of India. In Mysore 1,800 basins were installed. In
1943, 3 lac Ibs. or silk of the proper type was produced*
In 1044 the quantity was doubled and it is estimated that
not less than a million pound will be produced in 1945*

The reeling machine was first imported from abroad^
but since there was the difficulty of transport, good
machines for the purpose were made in India. Only the
looms and reeds are imported but their parts are being
attempted to be manufactured in the country.

A Central Sericulture station has been set up at
Bcharampur in Bengal with a sub-station at Kalimpony
(Bengal) by Government of India. Experts are imported
to establish the industry. It is considered % possible now

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES iyj

that India may be able to compete with Japan and
China silk.

Need we say that Industry development is a pro-
vincial subject and if the Red-Tapism would have been
followed in this case, as is generally done, nothing would
have been achieved. All constitutional objections were
set aside and under the stress of emergency Government
of India had to perforce develop an old dying industry.

We hone the Government of India will foster up
their newly born child with the same affection with which-
it was conceived and brought forth. We hope the Gov-
ernment of India will not allow it to die under consti-
tutional objection since the War is over. This industry
provides a subsidiary profession to agriculturist and
must be encouraged. We hope experts will take
immediate steps to tell the people where and how this
industry can be established with advantage.

As far as unemployment and economic conditions
are concerned, India is in a state of emergency. Steps,
far more effective than employed during the War, should
be taken during the peace. All efforts to push new
industries must continue with redoubled vigour. India
is a vast country and there are suitable places in all the
Provinces w! ere silk can be produced and worms can
be reared with advantage. It is the duty both of the
public and of the Government to discover such
places and establish sericulture as a subsidiary occupa-
tion to agriculture. If the technique is mastered and
people are trained and the industry is protected by im-
posing import duty as well as by standardising goods
internally there is a great future for this industry.

India perhaps is the only country where Tussar,
Endi and Munga silk is produced. If a research is made
in the constitution of these types of silk and the worm is
improved, there may be a possibility of producing more
animal filature in this country and provide a side occupa-
tion. The worms of these varieties are harder in their
habits and, feed on the leaves easily available*

138 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

There is a great demand for these fibres. It may be
possible that these silks may find some other important
use in the modern complicated world. So far the
development of these varieties has been entirely neg-
lected. Endi silk has special merits for those places
where castor plant is grown as a crop and leaves cost
nothing. There is a further advantage in rearing this
worm that in the extraction of fibre worm has not to
be killed. Thus farmers who shun to take life may
take to the rearing of this worm. If the multiplication
of this type of silk is encouraged it may also help
Khaddar production. It may be possible to mix
it with cotton before spinning. We specially invite
attention of the All-India Spinners* Association in this
connection.

From the description given above one will be
convinced of the potentialities of this important industry.
We need not be afraid of artificial silk in this matter.
If Italy* France and Japan, manufacturing large quan-
tities of artificial silk, have faith in the development of
silk industry why should we not have the same faith
specially when we arc assured of the market in our own
country. Not only silk saris and other dothes are po-
pular with us but from religious point of view silk arti-
cles are considered to be sacred and most people must
use them, specially on ceremonial occasions. This
must keep a demand for pure silk for a sufficiently long
time. However, it is necessary that the weak points of
the industry may be tackled and removed.

The first and the foremost necessity is the rearing of
the suitable type of the silkworms. In other countries
a great deal of work has been done to improve the breed
and worms are evolved by which yield is more than
doubled. These hybrids will have to be evolved for
different climatic conditions and sufficient seed has to
be supplied in localities suitable for them. Of course the
smaller the number of varieties the better. The seed will
have to be tested by microscope and othcf appliances*

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 139

For both these objects the work must be done by trained
hands. For this purpose we require the Government
help. Over and above this entymologists have to be
provided to take measures against disease and pests.
Very useful work has been done on the cultivation of
mulberry in Japan. Varieties are evolved which yield
the largest quantities of leaves in a small space, since
the worms live only on leaves, only such varieties should
be propagated which produce more leaves. In our
country there is already existing a pressure on land
and we can ill afford to waste any area and must econo-
mise in this respect. If it is found possible propaga-
tion of mulberry plants in waste land should DC tried*
Further investigation should be made to find out if other
leaves can be used for feeding.

Arrangement for extracting of silk may be made at
a central institution wherein all the rearers may be part-
ners and may be paid on the estimated silk in their
cocoons so that an urge to produce better cocoons may
be created.

The present method of reeling must be replaced by
better machines. Since this experiment has already been
made no further expense need DC incurred on that score,
but a frantic effort seems to be necessary to manufacture
right type of efficient and durable machines. Local
artisans may be trained in their manufacture so that they
may be locally made and repaired.

Dyeing is the next step. Fast colours of whatever
origin with beautiful shade, with details of dyeing, should
be arranged. In Benares the use of cheap colours is
the main defect of silk cloth. People should be trained
in dyeing fast colours and in order to save the industry
the use of cheap colours be prohibited.

In order to avoid competition import duty may be
levied both on yarn and cloth of foreign origin and it
may be made compulsory to give the quantity of actual
silk in every piece manufactured or imported.

In manufacture a considerable quantity of silk goes

140 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

to waste. Special machines for utilising silk waste must
be installed at suitable central centres where all this
waste may be utilised and thus the cost of silk may be
reduced.

Weaving. The biggest centre for silk weaving in
U.P. is Benares. Murshidabad in Bengal is another
important place. Silk is also used both in weaving and
borders in Madras. In U.P. silk weaving gives employ-
ment to over i i lacs of weavers and their dependent.
This province manufactures silk worth more than 9
crores on handlooms.

Silk is a costly material and gives a better wage
to the weaver. Borders of silk in different types of
cloth specially Dhoti and Saris is very common and
silk saris are a speciality. Before the War we were
importing silk from foreign countries to the extent
of 2 crores of Rupees annually. Over and above
this we were using all our production. It gives a fair
idea of our silk consumption and proves the impor-
tance of this industry.

In Benares there are 70,000 weavers and their
dependants who live by this industry. The weavers
have evolved an ingenious method of preparing new
designs and if they are encouraged they may be able
to hold their own against jackered looms.

Gold and silver threads arc woven in silk and very
expensive cloth is thus produced. It is a fine art which
has existed for centuries past and should not be allowed
to die.

Mixture of silk with other fibres is quite common
in foreign countries. If practised in this country, as
the method had already started, it may ruin the trade
altogether. It seems to be necessary, therefore, that
all articles of silk, foreign or Indian, must be compelled
to print the quantity of pure silk in them and false
declaration must be punishable.

Manufacture of parachute doth should continue

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

and if any other use of silk has been discovered that
discovery must be utilised.

In industries like Hour, sieving is done in silk
screens. This bolting silk comes from abroad and is
sold at very high rates. There is no reason as to why
these screens may not be made in India. The quantity
of such silk will always be small and there will never
be any likelihood of' its manufacture by the mills.
Arrangement for manufacturing bolting silk and pre-
paring screens therefrom be investigated and started.

More attention should be given to other types of
silks which worms in India produce and their behaviour
should be investigated. It is possible these silks may be
exported or may be utilised to advantage with cotton
or other fibres.

Other I'ibres Amongst other fibres used in weav-
ing, artificial silk is the most important. It is a pity
that for the supply of this fibre we depend entirely
upon foreign countries. In Japan very small factories
exist for its manufacture and there is no reason why
we cannot do the same here. In Japan in 193} facto-
ries not employing more than 9 men were producing
15% of the total production of artificial silk and fac-
tories in which not more than 30 labourers were em-
ployed were producing 46% of the total production.
Even if huge amount is needed for starting an artificial
silk factory there is no dearth of money in the country
and if any one industrialist does not want to take the
risk all the textile mills contribute a small amount each
and start a joint concern. One such successful factory
will open the field.

During the War many miraculous fibres have come
to stay. What will be the effect of these fibres on
natural fibres and what will be the future setting of
the World nobody can say. Artificial wool from
milk was considered a great step when Italy announced
its production a possibility during the Abyssinian
Wat. But since then a great variety of fibres have been

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

placed on the market and are daily being produced.

India is very rich in raw material and there is no
reason why we should not keep alert and utilise these
chemical discoveries for our advantage instead of
importing these fibres. Our chemists should make a
special study of these fibres and the Imperial Research
Bureau must equip itself for such a research. We
should no more depend on the Cotton Committee for
these researches but number of chemists should be em-
ployed on this job. Who knows India may contri-
bute its own quota and may discover a still new fibre
in which the whole world may become interested.

As long as this is not done India may be import-
ing these fibres for one reason or another. Of course,
as far as the weaver is concerned, he cannot be expected
to make these fibres. It will be to his advantage to
make use of new fibres. From national point too it
will be advantageous to import yarn in place of cloth.

Import duty on yarn always hits the weaver and
benefits the mills. Weaver will always like to get these
fibres at the cheapest rate while the factory owners may
require protection against them. That being so, we sug-
gest that in any such eventuality it should be considered
imperative that the interest of the weaver should not be
sacrificed for the protection of big factories. The time
has come when our method of levying protection duty
should be revised. We may introduce a system of
rebate for the articles utilised as raw material in the
manufacture of finished goods. The subject is im-
portant both in case of fibres and many other articles
in the manufacture of which foreign material is used
as raw material. To give another instance, for the
making of wire nails, iron wire is needed but the latter
may have to be protected to encourage wire industry.
If a rebate is not granted nail manufacturer will have
to suffer. Similar may be the case of manufacture of
bolts and nuts* Copper and brass sheets imported for
utensils against sheet industry may be another instance

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 14)

and so on. We, therefore, urge that the system of
rebate be introduced along with protection to avoid
such difficulties.

Besides imported fibres there are indigenous
fibres which find place in textile industry. The most
important of these is jute. For making many jute
products in cottages jute yarn is used. In all such
cases the cottage worker should be provided with yarn
from factories at reasonable rates so that he may be
able to get a living.

Fibres used for industries other than textile will
be discussed under separate heading.

Knittififj Though knitting is an important branch
of textile we have discussed it under another heading
due to its importance. Here we shall discuss all the
fibres used in knitting in one place.

Knitting from very old times is done by hand and
girls are taught this important art practically every-
where. In leisure hours it is a suitable occupation for
women. Beautiful designs in knitting and forms are
every day devised and adopted. In spite of the in-
dustry being common it takes such a tremendous time
that only knitting of wool is now done by hand and
for cotton goods machines are utilised. Small machines
worked by hand are designed and are in general use.
If these machines are made available by hire and pur-
chase system the industry will become more popular
and ladies even in high class families will not consider
it to be derogatory to employ their spare time in taking
to this industry. This industry is just as good as
Charkha itself. In knitting many articles such as
socks, banyan, jersey, pullover, stockings, vest, caps,
etc., are included but the largest number consists of
hosiery alone.

Before the War the annual imports of hosiery goods
in India was valued at more than a crore of rupees.
Japan was the biggest supplier. Some people wonder
as to how Japan could send out hosiery goods at such

144 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

a ridiculous price. We have seen their automatic
knitters which with power can manufacture thousand
of socks a day. The arrangement in these machines
is so automatic that the manipulation of needles for
making the toe and the heels and the upper portion
need not be attended to if the machine is once correctly
adjusted. This brings down the cost of labour very
low. For very cheap socks old yarn is generally usea.

Need we point out that the upper portion of the
sock remains in tact even when the sock is worn out.
This yarn can either be removed and used or attached
to the new sock. As a matter of fact, few firms in
Japan specialise in supplying the lower portion of
the sock to which you can easily attach your upper
portion yourself. A sewing machine, specially suited
for this job is also available. Other yarn which has been
used once can again be utilised provided it can be
-easily rewound. Thus the cost is brought down to the
minimum. If we adopt the same methods we can also
produce cheap goods. We wish some people may
utilise this tnck in trade. In Meerut old woollen
yarn is dyed and used in making socks and people have
a brisk trade though they make these socks only by
hand. Ordinary mistris of small means in Ludhiana
(Punjab) have successfully produced knitting machines
but" they have not been able to manufacture needles.
This weakness was discovered during the War. It
is absolutely necessary that needles may somewhere be
made in India to remove this shortcoming. Both
woollen or cotton goods can be knitted on these
machines. The thickness of the yarn will decide the type
of machine used.

Miscellaneous articles such as buttons, bags,
flowers, etc., are also made from yarn. Cotton-yarn-
buttons, perhaps, are the cheapest articles in the market.
Their production gives food to many infirm and weak
ladies 10 the United Provinces. These buttons are not
only very cheap but they can be washed without damage

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES *4J

along cloth. If they are more extensively used we can
decrease the import in buttons very considerably and
patronise a useful industry.

Stuffed toys is another line in the same direction.
We wish more aesthetic articles are produced and they
become more popular.

During the War Government required knitted
goods in the shape of jersey, vests, drawers, pullovers,
etc., and were forced to import yarn from Australia
and United Kingdom. Now the industry seems to
have developed a great deal and we wish this gain should
not be lost. As a cottage industry it has a great future.

India is a tropical country and woollen knitting
can only be a seasonal work. But there is a large con-
sumption of cotton goods. Silk is also used by rich
people. Whether cotton isrecjuired for knitting or wool
in every case mill yarn will have to be employed.
Though attempts to manufacture knitted goods from
hand-spun yarn have been made but no success is so far
achieved. There seems to be no likelihood that people
will take to this type of knitted goods which will always
remain weak, clumsy and expensive. For cottage
worker the cost of mill yarn will remain a great prob-
lem. Japan was the biggest supplier of yarn before
the War. How things will stand in future nobody
can predict. If we want to make this industry popu-
lar we shall have to make some arrangement for the
supply of cheap yarn.

LEATHER

India possesses one-third of the total cattle popu-
lation of the world. She contains 150 million cattle
besides 48 millions sheep and goats. She is the largest
supplier of hides and skins of the world- From the
Review of the Trade, the enormous quantity of hides
and skins exported will be quite apparent. In the yeat
1937-38 the total quantity of hides and skins exported
to different cpuntries amounted to 41,300 tons of raw

10

146 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

hides and skins and 23,700 tons of tanned hides. The
value of raw hides and skins was Rs. 494 lacs,
while that of tanned hides amounted to Rs. 645
lacs, bringing the total to Rs. 1139 lacs (more than
Rs. it crores). In the year 1938-39 the amount ex-
ported decreased to 8 crores 57 lacs. The following
is the analysis of raw and tanned hides and skins in
1937-38 :

Quantify in Values in
* To*, lacs of Rs.

RAW HIDES & SKINS :

Raw Cow Hides .. .. .. 16,800 123

Buffalo Hides 4 > 4o 3

Other hides . . . . . . . . 400 4

Goat Skins .. .. .. .. 18,600 307

Sheep Skins . . . . . . . . 800 14

Other Skins . . . . . . . . 300 16

TOTAL . . 41,300 494

TANKBD HIDES:

Cow hides 1 3,800 254

Buffalo hides . . . . . . *. 1,300 21

Other hides 1,900 45

Goatskins .. . . . . .. 3,400 165

Sheep skins 3>3oo 160

Other skins . . . . . . . .

TOTAL ,. 15,700 645

The above figures clearly bring about two points*
Firstly, that out of the total export of hides and skins
44% are sent as raw hides and only 56% are sent as tanned
hides and skins. Secondly, that most of die hides and
skins consist of cow hides and goat skins.

From the bulk calculations it will be quite dear
that the price of raw cow hide per ton is, on an average

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 147

Rs. 700 per ton while that of the tanned hides i$
Rs. 1800 per ton. Similarly the price of goat skins raw
is Rs. 1,650 per ton while that of the tanned goat skins*
comes to Rs. 4,790 per ton. The difference is enor-
mous and clearly points out that if we would have
exported all hides and skins after tanning the value
that we would have received from foreign countries
would have been more than double. It is not only
that we lose thereby national wealth and sell our
raw hides for a song but it also proves that if we would
have tanned all these hides in our country we would
have given employment to thousands of people. This
clearly justifies that a proper organisation and develop-
ment of leather tanning will give both employment
and money to the poorest of the poor in villages*
Perhaps, we cannot find a better industry than leather
tanning which can be developed as a side occupation*
in villages along with agriculture. It clearly brings
out a case for providing suitable employment to the
landless labourer in villages and at the same time
increasing the national wealth of the country. If we
add to it number of articles manufactured from leather^
which can easily find market in the country, the amount
of money spent on the development of this industry*
will be clearly justified. We wish that the Government
as well as the leaders of the public opinion should con-
centrate upon this industry if they want to divert a
large population from land to industry.

It we further go into figures of tanned leather
we are at once driven to the conclusion that even in'
tanning we are not getting the full price of our goods.
The total amount of tanned leather in India amounts
to 20. 8 millions hides out of which the number of
village-tanned leather hides and skins amount to 9.1
million, i.e., 43.8%, 8.6 millions are kip-tanned, i.e.,
41 . 3%, The number of hides and skins tanned on the
modern method amounts only to 3.1 millions, i.e.,
*4*9% Th*se figures reveal that out of the total

148 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

number of hides and skins tanned in the country,
14.9% are only tanned by the rational, scientific up-to-
date method while 8 j . i% are tanned in a crude and pre-
mitive method. If we change our method from crude
to the modern scientific method we can make still more
money either by exporting or by using leather in our own
country. This state of affairs points out that we should
not only concentrate on tanning of hides and skins
produced in the country, but points out the need of
the introduction of up-to-date method of tanning in
every group of villages where old method is followed.
There has been no attempt made so far to change the
old method by up-to-date modern scientific methods.
By this we do not mean that this work should be taken
away from the village people and be handed over to
the capitalist and big factories be installed. On the
other, we want that the method should be brought
within the means of the village tanner by reducing the
equipment to the lowest possible limit. This seems to
be possible as All-India Spinners* Association has already
devised means of doing so, to which we shall refer
later.

It may be argued that if we care to tan all our
leather and try to export this commodity out of the
country, it may not have very good sale and other
countries, which have been using our raw hides, may
not purchase our tanned leather. This apprehension
seems to be ill-founded at least for a number of years
to come. On account of the present War the quantity
of leather has become far less in the world than we can
expect and there will, therefore, be a continuous demand
for this article from foreign countries. We know for
certain that the number of cattle cannot easily be in-
creased within a short period. Even if the other
countries do not purchase our tanned leather, there
will be no difficulty in utilising this commodity in the
count*? itself.

After textile this is the largest industiy existing in

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 149

the country and since it is capable of development on
cottage scale we emphasise its importance and hope
that both the Government and the people will take
sufficient interest in its development.

To understand difficulties of this industry it may
not be out of place to say a few words about its details.
Let us first deal with the preparation of leather before
we deal with the thousands of articles made from it.

It may not be out of place to mention that on account
of our carelessness we get the lowest price for our
hides and skins. First and foremost attention should,
therefore, be given to the improvement of raw material.
India is mostly a vegetarian country and most of
the hides are received from cattle which die a natural
death. According to the old practice prevailing in
every village the carcase of the dead cattle becomes the
property of the Chamar of the village. There came a
time when the Chamars became greedy and began to
poison cattle in order to get hide. Though this
evil is met with everywhere, it was more common in
Madras. Owners of cattle, in order to save the loss
of their cattle, took to brand their cattle to the extent
that the hide when removed may fetch very low price.
The evil though now has diappeared yet the branding
has remained with the result that the value of the hide
is very much affected.

At present, however, another evil has recently
started in number of villages of Punjab and United
Provinces that the Chamars do not remove the carcase
nor they remove the hide and in number of places cattle
are now buried instead of otherwise disposed off*
Thus very valuable material is lost to the country.
In some places scavengers have taken the work of car-
case removal and they either remove the hides or sell
it for a song to others to be removed. This is very
unfortunate that on account of false sentiment valuable
expert and hereditary knowledge is lost to 'the commu-
nity. We think it to be necessary that propaganda be

150 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

made against this practice so that this national wealth
of the country may not be affected. Whenever such
an evil exists it must be removed and arrangement for
the production of sound good hides be made so that
full value may be realised by the country.

Hides and skins are a perishable commodity and
putrefaction starts if they are not properly preserved.
The cheapest method is to salt them and dry them
for future use. In some places cheap Khari Namak
{Sodium sulphate) of local production is used for this
purpose. Salt in India is an excisable commodity
and is very expensive though it can be made at about 5
annas a maund. Government has made certain rules
under which salt free of duty is made available for in-
dustrial purposes. But the benefit of such an exemp-
tion cannot be availed of by illiterate and small people
producing only a few hides in a month, nor can they
l>e expected to follow the excise rules and to stand
the red-tape of the Department. Even salt without
duty is expensive as it has to pay freight charges and
^Government expenses and after paying which its price
comes to about 12 annas a maund. It is, therefore,
desirable that excise duty on salt may be entirely removed
as soon as possible* It is a duty that falls on the
poorest man of the country. Its removal has been
advocated at so many times by the leaders of public
opinion. The result of all this is that many hides are not
only kept unsalted but are exported in that very condi-
tion. This results in the deterioration of the commodity
to a very great extent. If we want to save this valu-
able commodity something must be done and done at
once.

Dry or fresh skins and hides are brought to trade
and they are either tanned or exported raw to foreign
countries. For making use of them in the country
4hey ate in every case tanned batting a small quantity
used lot making topes etc.

Before the advent of big tanneries tanning process

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 1 5 I

was done in group of villages by a few cottage tanners,
who either were selling it as tanned leather or used to
turn into water buckets, shoes, bags, etc. The process
of tanning has considerably improved by scientific
knowledge but the methods of tanning in villages have
remained the same. Chrome tanning is a new intro-
duction. We are glad to say that All-India Spinners*
Association has so modified the system as to suit the
cottage worker. Now almost all types of tanning can
be done on a small scale. Tanning is a very important
cottage industry and when properly organised can
provide work for a large population.

We give a short description of tanning below.
It is not our purpose to give its technical details but a
short description may be desirable to understand the
points of difficulty. Tanned leather for local use and
for sale is prepared by the following methods:

(1) Dhori hides

(2) Chrome leather

(i) For gin rollers

(ii) For sole leather

(iii) For upper leather

(iv) Others

(3) Bark sole leather

(4) Fancy leathers and

(5) Miscellaneous leather

(1) This process is very common throughout the
country. It is the cheapest and most inexpensive.
Hides, generally of buffalo, arc turned end wise and
made into a bag, keeping the upper part open. These
bags so made are filled with tan material which con-
sists of local barks or myrobalan or a mixture and the
liquor is allowed to trickle out of the hide and thus
tanning the leather.

(2) Chrome leather is a new scientific method
wherein molasses and sodium bichromate is used

1 5 2 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

with other chemicals. This method gives very good
results and take a much shorter time in tanning.
The difficulty is that one has to handle chemicals about
the purity ot which one must have a good knowledge.
It also requires a few apparatus which arc suggested
by All-India Spinners* Association. In big tanneries,
however, this method requires elaborate machinery.
Chrome leather is required for number of articles
and the tanning varies with all of them to a little extent.
It seems to be desirable that this method be extensively
followed everywhere and the apparatus required for
this purpose DC made available. Training centres be
started in all important places. Importance of the
introduction of this method will be apparent from the
following words of a small pamphlet issued on the
subject by the Khadi Pratishthan:

"Unless high class chrome tanned leather is finished
in cottages the village chamars, whose only pro-
fession is handling ot hide, will continue to remain
poor, neglected and largely dependent upon ex-
porters of hides or leathers (Chrome leather) for their
living. With the introduction of chronic tanning
in cottages this is bound to change, leading to the
economic improvement of the condition of those
who are at present extremely poor and ignorant. . . ."

We entirely agree with the sentiment expressed
in the above words and wish that the whole industry
be organised on the above lines. According to this
pamphlet only ij days are required to tan leather.
Though it has not described the methods of preparing
leather for different uses but we do not think there
will be any difficulty on this score if once the technique
of the process is mastered. We strongly recommend
its introduction and we are sure that its technique
will improve by its coming in general use.

(4) Several types of skins are made into fancy
leather but the demand is erratic and not Tegular.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES I J 5

(5) Under the head miscellaneous comes leather
of belting, rollers, laces, etc. There is only a local
demand for such leather and generally it is made to
order.

Before hide is tanned there are a number of pro-
cesses required which can be divided into soaking,
liming, dehairing, deliming, pickling, etc. For all
these processes a different technique and skill is required.

The most important things, however, are (a) the
supply of water for washing, etc., (b) raw material such
as bark, chemicals, etc., (c) sufficient space, (d) disposal
of water, (e) and the utilisation of waste material.

Let us discuss these in a little detail:

(a^ Tanning is an offensive trade and must be
carried out at a place remote from habitation and at a
place which is not frequented by the people. To arrange
for good water at such a place is absolutely necessary.
Though tanneries are generally located on the bank
of rivers for the cheap supply of water but such places
cannot be made available in all villages. The only
supply possible is well water for which an arrangement
for lifting may be necessary. If properly constructed
tanks are made and water is economically utilised, the
quantity of water can be considerably reduced.

(b) Coming to the question of bark and raw mate-
rial it is a pity that the poor man is left to his own re*
sources ana practically nothing is done to help him.
There are number of types of Darks available in differ-
ent localities, specially from forests. The collection
of barks is not organised. Mostly this work is done
by contractors who take contracts for different types
of minor products and hence do not give sufficient
attention towards the purity of the material If we
want to improve the industry the collection of barks
should be taken up by the Government itself and pure
and guaranteed article be supplied to the tanners. If
barks are available round about the locality the tanner

I J4 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

has either to collect the bark himself or has to depend
upon local trade. In the first case his labour becomes
too expensive and this work can only be done in the
slack season. But if he purchases from trade he gets
adulterated article. There are number of types of
barks in different parts of the country which produce
nice tanned leather. Out of these Anaram bark
(Casia Auriculate) in Madras and Babul in U.P. and
Punjab are important. The former gives the best
tanned leather and the exporters allow a special premium
but there seems to be no arrangement for its regular
supply. The other main difficulty with this bark is
that it cannot be easily separated from the plant, it
being very thin. Attempts to design a machine for
its extraction have so far failed. Extraction by hand
is very tedious and expensive.

We are of opinion that the plant should be culti-
vated specially when its value as a green manure is
established and we are sure that by proper cultivation
the yield will be regular and its extraction will be easier
and less expensive. The plant is found practically
all over India except N.-W.F.P., Punjab and U.P.,
i.e. , places where plant is affected by frost. It is possible
to develop some strains which may stand frost or plant
may be cut before the frost. By cultivation and pro-
per manuring the twigs may become thicker and the
Quantity of bark may be increased. The main hin-
drance in improving these plants is that there is no
department responsible for their development and the
article is required by small man. In all countries of the
world all plants are developed by the agricultural
department and it is also the duty of this department to
investigate the possibilities of new use to industries.
We wish that similar duties be assigned in India so that
the .plant kingdom may be well exploited. To divide
the responsibility between industries and agricultural
departments leads us nowhere. On account of these
lues bark is only used for skins* which fetch

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES I J 5

high prices and can stand the cost of this valuable mate-
rial.

The Government seems to have taken the least
line of resistance and they have tried to popularise wat-
tle bark from Africa. The public ought to protest
against the discarding of the use of a better material
available in the country and not to develop the exist-
ing material on the lines suggested above.

No arrangements seem to have been made to
standardise and to arrange for the sale of bark and
niyrobalans. For want of this arrangement the in-
dustry has suffered a great deal.

Coming to the supply of chemicals the first neces-
sity is the supply of good lime. Small man has to de-
pend upon what is available in the market barring those
places where shells are available cheap or can be collect-
ed free. They are burnt by the tanner himself. In
the use of lime atmosphere becomes foul and sometimes
leather also suffers. But if a small percentage of sodium
sulphite is used the work progresses very smoothly.
Sodium sulphite deteriorates by keeping and to get it of
good strength is not easy. Til oil is another article which
is also not available pure and the same is the case with
Pungam oil. Both oils are more generally employed.
People generally mix mineral oils and sell adulterated
articles. Laws against adulteration are very defective.
Government must check adulteration with strong
hand and should not allow industries to die on this score.
It has been found that there is a considerable difference
in the quality of myrobalan available in the market*
For a small man it is not possible to purchase sufficient
quantities of tanning material at a time. His only method
of testing is the use of the material. It will be pro-
fitable, therefore, that an arrangement for gradation
and standardization of supply be made available.

For colours and chemicals the ignorant and illi-
terate man must depend upon the unscrupulous shop-
keeper who would like to pass an adulterated article

156 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

as genuine without knowing its effect on trade. If
the use of chrome leather be introduced in villages,
which we think should be our ideal, the difficulty of
getting pure stuff will be much more and steps should
be taken for supply of pure articles.

(c) Village chamars have to depend upon zamindars
to have a suitable place for their tanning. In number of
localities , their own houses are being used for the purpose
with the result that not only they suffer from the foul
air but they also make the other neighbours suffer
from the same. For a small man in the villages it is
not easy to apply for acquisition of land and even if it
is done the tanner will have to pay the heavy penalty
for such an insult to his landlord. It seems to be de-
sirable that some arrangement for the acquisition of a
suitable place be made. Some official should be given
the power of acquisition so that without any offence
tanneries may be located at suitable places. If the
Government provide designs, in expensive plans for
this purpose, it will be extra help to the tanners. Such
places should be provided with suitable water and also
arrangement for disposal of water.

(d) Disposal of Water Waste water is of three
types. One consisting of washings only. This water
contains salt and is generally injurious to the cultivation
and should not be allowed to run in cultivated fields.
If round about the tannery, plants like coconut, plan-
tain, etc., which like saltwater be grown, injury to
land may be avoided. Fortunately, wash water is
not in much quantity. Second type of water is ob-
tained from the tanning material. This water is
generally useful for vegetation and if properly regulated
and not allowed to flow only one side for a lon
period it can be utilised with advantage for crops.
The third type of water comes from chrome tanning*
Chrome salts are very injurious to vegetation and such
liquors should not be allowed to flow on land suitable
foi cultivation. The best thing is to precipitate these

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES t J 7

salts with sodium carbonate. In big factories the
sludge so precipitated may further be utilised to prepare
chromium salts. At any rate if this sludge has to be
disposed of it should never be mixed with manure nor
allowed to spread on cultivated fields.

(e) Waste material will consist of (i) exhausted
barks, (ii) fleshings-cuttings of hides and skins, (iii)
lime sludge, (iv) hairs and wool. Exhausted barks may
be used either as manure or as fuel. Fleshings and
cuttings can be used for making glue or may be sold
as glue stock. They are a valuable manure also.
Lime may be used as field dressing with advantage where
soil is deficient in lime. Ordinary hairs from skins
and hides may also be utilised as manure if they cannot
be sold for a good price. Hairs decompose slowly
but they contain large quantity of nitrogen and thus are
valuable manure. In the case of sheep or goat skins
wool if properly separated may fetch a good price.
If properly arranged, tanners may make some money
out of their waste.

If the tanners arc given the necessary encourage-
ment, organisation and technical advice, this industry,
which once was very lucrative and prosperous, may be
made so again. It can give employment to the largest
number ot people in villages.

There are special leathers which require special
treatment. All such special leathers are imported
from foreign countries. Though the prices or such
leather are very high but very little attempt has been
made to meet the requirements of the country. It
is but necessary that establishments to make these types of
leather be made in the country.

LEATHER GOODS

Leather is utilised for the manufacture of number
of articles. In villages it is used for water buckets,
shoes and strings. Footwear is the biggest branch
for which leather is used. Besides boots and shoes, and

1 5 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

village shoes, chappals ate made from cow hides and
have a great demand. Barring a few factories on a
big scale in India all these articles are made locally in
cottages. Even in places like Agra and Cawnpore all
the snoes are made in ordinary shops comparing very
well with the factory -made articles, provided the small
worker is supplied the right type of leather, both
for sole as well as for the upper portion of boots and
shoes*

During the War the worker has very well learnt
the method of division of labour and they have success-
fully utilised this method in the production of many
leatner articles.

There are a number of small machines which can
be usefully employed by small man. They produce
better finish and reduce the cost of labour. They can-
not be said to be strictly speaking labour-saving machines
but certainly they are of very great use. Some of these
useful macnines are securely locked in Government
Leather Schools not to go abroad amongst those who
badly need them.

In a number of places cuttings from boots and
shoes are utilised for making laminated leather boards.
The process is rather crude and simple. It consists
only of pasting cuttings with pulse flours, and pressing
the small laminated board under ordinary screw
press.

Besides the above articles holdalls, straps, belts,
buttons, etc., are made from leather. Very good suit-
cases, money-bags and the like are also made from
leather and they are quite decent and compare well
in prices with the imported articles. There are thou-
sands and one things which can be manufactured
from leather, provided a proper guidance is given and
people {jet the necessary training both in designs as
well as in the details of manufacture.

Harness saddlery are also made in number of places
in cottage industries. Before the factories were orga-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 159

nised even the leather articles utilised by police and army
were made on a small scale.

Since the time different factories are started, machi-
nery parts require leather for different purposes. Rol-
ler, pickers, washers are some of the articles now manu-
factured in number of places, which are centres of
factory industry such as Ahmedabad and Cawnpore.
In one place alone pickers worth 34 lakhs arc manu-
factured in a year. Washers are made in Nadiad alone
to the extent of ij lakhs. It is due to the local arti-
san's enterprise that these jobs have been found out
and a good trade is being done in them. The artisans
require leather of foreign make for this purpose and
when they do not get tne right type of leather they are
forced to utilise the Indian-made leather which is not as
good as the imported one. It is necessary that proper
steps be taken to prepare proper type of leather for these
industries and supplied at a moderate rate. If that
is done, we are perfectly sure, most of articles, which
are now imported, will soon be made in the country.

Leather belting is used sufficiently in large quanti-
ties in the country. We are sorry to say that largest
quantity of belting is generally impbrtcd. There are
a few factories started in India but they cannot meet
the demand. Attempts should be made to manufacture
belting from ordinary leather in small places. This
work can easily be done provided arrangement for
pressing and supply of rignt type of leather is made.
There is a great scope for this industry being developed
in cottages. When in Japan most of the feather belt-
ing as well as rubber belting is produced in small
works, there is no reason why it cannot be so done in
India. The list of articles made from leather is
essentially a large one and if proper analysis of the
imported articles be made ana their manufacture is
properly organised, we are perfectly sure that there
will be found a great scope in the leather trade and
most of the people will get their living by the manu-

l6o COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

facture of these articles. We require leather schools
in every big locality and teachers should go out for
giving short training to the artisans in the manufacture
of new articles. We hope and trust that steps will
be taken to organise this important industry. During
the War the cottage worker has been utilised for the
manufacture of number of articles and this they have
done to the satisfaction of the authorities whenever
and wherever steps were taken to supervise the manu-
facture from start to finish. If once vigorous attempt
is made there is absolutely no reason why the artisan
will not strive to produce the best articles now imported.

Allied Industries to leather.

Gut manufacture It is a very important industry.
Siaikot manufacturers have proved that Indians can
produce best gut for tennis rackets and other purposes.
The only necessity is the proper organisation for
sale. It is a cottage industry which has a big scope
of development, London market has responded
well and mere is a demand for it. Ahmcdabad also
prepares gut but the industry is not very important.
There are other places where gut is manufactured but
looking to the vast material available this industry for
the most part is neglected.

Glm manufacture It is a very important industry
and can be practised in cottages. There are some
makers of glue in big cities but the article prepared
is full of impurities and the method is extremely
crude. Fleshings and cuttings are generally exported
and a very little quantity is utilised. In India large
quantities of glue are usecl in plywood and other trades
tor pasting. It is also used for casting printers' rollers
and now large quantities are used in making jelly,
and jujubes of confectionery. It is also eaten in number
of other forms and is considered a valuable food on
account of its nitrogenous contents. As fair as we
we aware good edible glue or gelatin; is nowhere

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES l6l

made in India. All good glue is imported. In out
process of preparation high temperature destroys its
strength ana many impurities find place in its manu-
facture. A great deal can be done by improving the
technique. If vacuum concentration is introduced,
which need not be costly, very good glue can easily
be prepared throughout the year. We were simply
surprised to learn that quite an ingenious method
of drying glue by spraying by Pichkaries (pumps) on
a hot plate has been devised by the glue makers
themselves.

There is a great scope for the clarification of glue.
It is desirable that the Directors of Industries should
take special interest in this valuable material. It does
not require a large investment. It is rather a pity that
with a paraphernalia of so many experts this important
industry is almost neglected. Any good chemist put
on the job would have improved the process a great
deal.

It is not only the fleshings and the cuttings from
which glue can be prepared, bone glue offers a good
scope. In other countries bone glue is prepared in
large quantities and there is no reason why this raw
material should not be utilised.

Bone crushing It is another good industry which can
be developed easily on a small scale if the Depart-
ment of Agriculture takes as much interest in this use-
ful fertiliser as they do in other manures. It is dis-
graceful for this country to export bones and import
fertilisers.

Horn meal Horns contain about iz% nitrogen
and is a very good organic manure. Wherever horns
are used for making combs the shavings have been
tried as manure and they have given very good results.
If machinery for filing horns be imported this valuable
manure can be prepared in all groups of villages*

Horn articks Beautiful combs, caskets, knives,
stocks, etc., are made from horns. These articles take

l6z COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

good polish and fetch good prices. In different exhi-
bitions organised by the Congress very delicate designs
showing the workmanship and skill of the artisans
have been exhibited. If the industry is well organised
we can give employment to many people in villages.
Horn articles arc mostly made from buffalo horns and
they are mostly exported from U.P. and Punjab for this
purpose. It is a pity that no industry exists in these
provinces. There arc only a few centres where horns
are utilised for making combs.

Horn and horn meal can be utilised in making
useful articles by chemical methods. No attempt
seems to have been made in this country to collect
this information and utilising it for the use of the in-
dustry.

Ferrotyanide of potassium The manufacture of this
article from horns, blood or other animal products
containing nitrogen is very easy and can find a ready
sale. No attempt is made to manufacture the same.
It is true that this is a wasteful method than the synthe-
tic process adopted in other countries but in a country
where such articles are wasted, this industry can give
employment to some people

Bone char Bone char or bone black or ivory black
i$ a well-known pigment. It is a good bleaching agent
also. Its preparation is not at all difficult and it can
easily be prepared by cither burning bones in a limited
supply ot air or by dry distillation.

METAL INDUSTRY
Iron

Use of iron was known to Indians from times im-
memorial. In hills old furnaces for smelting iron are
found which were worked with charcoal. They stop*
ped working for want of fuel. Indian Woltz was a
special type of steel, which enjoyed special reputation

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 163

throughout the world. Sabres, swords, knives were
manufactured in number of places.

Iron Smelting It was once a very prosperous Indus-
try in forests where fuel was in abundance. Since
the time coal is used for this purpose industry had dis-
appeared altogether. Iron ore found in hills is no more
melted now as the cost of coal becomes very high.
Generally such ore is not rich in iron. Melting of ore
cannot profitably be done on a small scale.

However, there are small foundries making differ-
ent articles in different places in the country. They
mostly use scrap iron at cheap rates, mix it with small
quantities of pig iron and cast articles for ordinary
use. Mostly cane crushers are made, finished and given
on hire to agriculturists. Before the advent of sugar
factories and even now at places where sugar factories
do not exist the cultivator has to convert his cane into
jaggery. Iron Kolhus are in demand. Kolhus arc gcne-
rauy given on hire and the cost is thus repaid within
two or three years. Though it will pay to the farmer
to purchase his own crusher but generally he does not
do so as in that case he will have to make arrangements
for repairs and spare parts. In the case of hiring the
proprietor keeps sufficient number of men who go
about to look after the repairs and keep the Kolhus in
good condition. He also keeps spare parts which can
at once be provided in case of breakdown.

The above is a very good method in popularising
agricultural implements and should be recommended.
It improved implements are introduced in this fashion
with a very small outlay the agriculturist will be able
to take to these up-to-date articles and will make use
of them. If cooperative societies are employed for
this business, danger of exploitation will be avoided.

There has arisen a demand for small hand pumps
for domestic supply of water. In places where water
level is not more than 20 feet these small wells work
well. "They are not very expensive and their

164 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

fixing docs not cost much. Their repairs if once un-
derstood is not difficult either. There arc places where
a dealer provides these pumps on a monthly hire basis
and takes the responsibility of keeping them in repairs.
But this can happen only in those places where there
is a sufficient demand to keep the man going. If the
ordinary blacksmith be trained in the details of fixing
the pumps and making repairs there is likelihood of in-
troducing these pumps in many localities.

These pumps were first imported but now the
machines and filters arc being made in small foundries
and only the galvanised pipe is purchased. It is,
however, to be regretted that the attempt at imitations
is a poor one and we have not changed the arrange-
ment to make the machine more convenient and
fool-proof,

There seems to be a possibility of utilising these
machines for irrigation purposes jfor small fields. It
is more convenient to work them in place of Dhcklis
if a wheeled pump is employed. It seems to be desir-
able that comparative tests with these machines against
Dhekli be made. Mortars pestler and other small
machines are also made in some places.

There is yet a scope for small foundries in which
small agricultural machines like chaff cutters, ploughs,
harrows and other agricultural implements may be
made.

There have sprung up many rolling mills which
roll waste iron in round and flats with advantage and
at time can undersell articles made in big factories.
The arrangement does not require much space or
equipment. Iron cots are also made by a few small
workshops. Punjab has given the lead in many iron
articles made on a small scale. Electric fan, knitting
machines, even hand saws and plywood machines
are attempted to be made in small establishments.
Some of these works were started by the artisans
themselves, while others ate started by business men who

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 165

employ skilled labour. In Ludhiana knitting machines
ate also manufactured on a small scale.

LwJks Different types of locks made from brass,
iron and other alloys are made in number of places.
They arc both made by casting as well as by forging.
In other countries iron is moulded on a small scale for
this purpose known as malleable iron. If the details
of this method are learnt by our workers we can cer-
tainly hold our own in cheap goods. We wish that
institutions may be opened to teach this industry
wherein the designs, finish and the alloys may be studica.
It is regretted that our workmen and dealers both con-
centrate upon the production of cheap articles without
caring as to how it will affect their trade in the long
run. In doing so they generally make useless things
which do not serve the purpose at all. Cheapening
of an article can be done in many ways and we wish
our workers would have concentrated on these ways
instead of spoiling the workmanship and utility of tne
article. Simplicity in designs saves more money than
finishing an article badly. Changing the raw material
is another method of cheapening the thing. Sometimes
the method of manufacture brings down the cost of an
article to a great extent. All these and many other things
arc better ways of cheapening the cost of an article
than selling a thing cheap and at the same time useless.

Dealers must study the new designs coming in the
market and try to utilize the principles involved in them.
In foreign countries lock making is a speciality and every
day new types are evolved whose principles can easily
be applied to our products. There must be an arrange-
ment to collect these designs where the workers may
be allowed to study them.

Finishing of locks may give us a far higher value
than we are getting today. Electro-plating has be*
come fine art and must be practised. We shall refer
its details elsewhere but we wish to emphasise that
making locks from brass is more expensive than making

l66 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

them from iron. If iron locks be chrome plated
they will cost less and must sell at high rates. We
are glad that at Aligarh, which is a first-class centre
for locks and other metal articles, Government main-
tains a school for teaching the manufacture of many
metallic articles but we are sorry to say that a far better
equipment is needed for such a school and more atten-
tion ought to be devoted upon it. Similar schools
with aovantage may be started in other provinces.

Furniture fittings Quite a large number of articles
are imported from foreign countries under this cate-
gory.

Most of these articles are made now in the country
but since they are made by hand, they cost much.
There are small machines for this purpose and they
can with advantage be introduced on hire-purchase
system.

Domestic iron articles Angithis, stands, tonsuls,
chimtas, pans spoons, chains, etc., are articles invari-
ably imported from outside. Most of our scrap can be
easily employed for this purpose and we can easily pro-
vide worlk tor many people. These things may not
pay when an attempt to manufacture the whole range
is made. One article is made by one man or parts
of it, and then assembled together is a question which
requires investigation and details. But here is cer-
tainly a big scope for giving employment to many.
There are places where water buckets are only manu-
factured. There are others who manufacture only
Tasks. Still others manufacture only chains and so on*

Sass&rs and cutlery It is a very important cottage
industry but the scientific knowledge has far advanced*
We cannot expect much from illiterate and uneducat-
ed people to improve their method of manufacture.
Besides the general handicaps from which all the
cottage industries suffer is the ignorance about the
suitability of the steel for this purpose and arrangement
for obtaining it* Generally ordinary wrought iron or

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 1 67

mild steel is used for the purpose and for better quality
old worn out files are used. It is but necessary that
these people be supplied with the best type of steel
suitable for cutlery and scissors so that the quality of
their goods be maintained. Some of the artisans
are quite capable of finishing good and nice articles
but what can they do without suitable raw material and
good equipment for the purpose. The latter may
partially be replaced by their skill but the former can-
not be replaced at all. The method of forging as now
adopted is very time-consuming and expensive. We
saw in Japan a cheap device for hammer locally made
from motor springs to which a suitable hammer is
attached. This hammer is run by hand and the spring
action gives a uniform beating and quickly gives it
the required shape. Similar or a modified equipment
may be made with advantage. Article must be attrac-
tively finished either by polishing or by electro-plating
so that it may find a ready market. If in places like
Meerut, noted for scissors, an electroplating house
be maintained, the sale of scissors is likely to go
up,

Steel trunks and iron safes We arc glad to sec that
both these things are manufactured in cottages in quite
a large number. Though there are started some big
factories, but their number is very small. There is a
great scope for the expansion of this industry. If
the workers are organised and supply of raw material
and sale of the finished goods is assured, there is like-
lihood of a brisk business in this line. However,
variety of design and standardisation will pay if we want
to create a language of the market.

Wire netting During the war many establishments
made successful attempts to make wire netting by
very crude equipment. Galvanized black iron wire as
well as brass wire is used for the purpose. We think
this industry is likely to survive if the Government
supplies the -necessary technique and equipment. The

l68 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

handloom method now employed may be quite useful
and cheap for certain articles only.

Wire drawing Silver and gold and other wire
drawings are a very old industry. There are very
small machines used in foreign countries for this pur-
pose. These machines do better work with far less
manual labour. We wish their use may be made common
and some system of hire and purchase be adopted
to bring these within the easy means of the ordinary
artisan. Silver and gold wire is used for embroidery
purposes and they are sufficiently fine. Sometimes
alloys are also worked up. These wires are also used
in ornaments but generally the goldsmiths make their
own wires instead of purchasing them,

Metal haves It is another cottage industry. Lead,
silver and gold are the main metals used. The industry
is dying because of the cheap articles imported from
foreign countries. If small hammering machines
worked by hand or by small motors are introduced
the industry may revive. We can add bronze and
aluminium powder with advantage in the above list.

Tin Smithy There is not a single city where tin
smiths do not" make thousands of domestic articles from
tin sheets. The manufacture of containers for different
articles are, however, made by machines. We wish that
the use of small punches and presses be made common
so that articles may not only be uniformly finished
but a variety of designs may be made by these artisans
as then they will more easily be able to change the
dies. Hurricane lanterns, small caskets, etc., are some
of the well-known articles that can easily be made.
Japanese toys are mostly made by small punching
machines and presses. The ingenuity of one worker
will be a great asset if we once introduce these small
machines and teach the artisans their uses. These
machines are neither complicated nor expensive.

Buttons Metal buttons both of tin and aluminium
and other metals are quite a good line and some people

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 169

are already manufacturing them on a big scale. Seve-
ral firms supply these machines.

This line of metal industries is quite a big one.
We have simply tried to illustrate. We do not claim
to make the list an exhaustive one, nor can we do so
within such small space. Readers can themselves
expand the list and can add many more articles to the
above list.

At number of places, specially Ambala and Agra,
scientific apparatus are being made in very small work-
shops and they are quite good and useful. Since elec-
troplating is introduced they are very well finished.
We have dealt with this matter at a separate place.

In all big cities there have sprung up many repair
shops which repair motor cars, busses, bicycles, etc.
These workships are fitted with lathes, drills, etc., and
can easily do ordinary repairs. In these workshops
some workers exhibit ingenious methods of doing
things and make very delicate parts. We wish encour-
agement to such small men be given to show their skill.

If the country is industrialised there will be a great
demand of small tools and machines and new inven-
tions. All this development will be easier if intelligent
mistris are utilised for this purpose and they are en-
couraged to evolve and manufacture their own
machines. In Japan complicated machines are made
in very small workshops. The artisans if they have not
good arrangement for making any part specially steel
castings, they get the part made from elsewhere, other-
wise they finish the whole thing themselves. We
purchased confectionery machinery and machinery
for preserves and Sharbats (cold drinks) from a very
small man who had only a small foundry, a lathe and
drill in his own workshop. There are very small work-
shops run by ordinary mistris wherein filter presses,
vacuum pans (small si2c) small lathes and drills, zip
machines, presses and the like are manufactured ana
sold. Thousands of such small workshops are found

170 COTTAGB AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

in big cities and they mostly manufacture small machines
for tnc cottage workers. A similar thing if started in
India and the artisans are organised thev will not onlv
make money for themselves but will make small
machines by which others can have a good living. We
have depended too much on foreign countries and have
made it a fetish to get all machines from abroad. If
once we encourage our skilled workers we can change
the face of the country in a very short time.

Screw cutting Bolts and nut manufacture, iron
nails, manufacture of files, etc., arc all small things which
can be successfully made by cottage workers. Even
the machines for these can be made in cottages. Or-
ganise skilled mistris, provide them with modern
tools and finance them and you will find them manu-
facturing many small and useful machines* Let their
intelligence be utilised for the evolution of new tools
and machines.

Blacksmiths -arc found in every village and they
generally help the agriculturist with their sicill and art.
Some of them have started making Persian wheels,
buckets of different types, forged utensils, etc. Their
ingenuity shows that they are capable of doing far more
complicated jobs if opportunity is granted. By the
advent of improved agricultural implements they are
being thrown out of employment. They are forced to
go to urban areas to search new avenues for their liv-
ing. In a country where three-fourths of the population
live on land, the small number of blacksmiths would
have been inadequate to supply the modern needs of
the farmers if instead of concentrating on the imports
of improved implements we would have introduced their
manufacture in villages. We ought to <have analysed
our needs and then ought to have divideo the work in
such a fashion that agricultural implements and machines
would have been manufactured an villages while only
those which require big equipment for manufacture
would have been imported.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 17 1
BRASS, COPPER, ALUMINIUM AND BELL METAL

This industry is found practically in every big
city. Utensils or different types mostly for domestic
use are manufactured. The work is either done by
casting or by beating metal sheets to a shape. Metal
sheets are generally imported but casting is done from
scrap mixing with it a small quantity of metal. This
industry meets the local need. There arc places
which are famous for different articles which arc ex-
ported to large distances,

Places like Moradabad in U.P. have made a special
name and though the artisans arc simply exploited by
the wealthy merchants but still the industry gives
employment to many people. We require new ideas,
improved method of manufacture and the introduction
of articles in new places to keep the industry going but
artisans arc too poor and illiterate to acquire these
things and the capitalists seldom care to look beyond
their nose. Unless cottage workers are themselves
organised, the industry will not prosper.

We are glad that aluminium sheets and ingots will
now be prepared in India and we shall not have to
import this cheap and valuable metal. During the
war a great many new alloys of aluminium are dis-
covered. It is but desirable that all that knowledge
should be made available to our workers so that they
may be able to manufacture new articles before our
market is flooded with them from outside. Study
of allovs and their manufacture is a very important
field or development.

Curious ornamental figures and other articles of
arts are made at different places and some of them are
very artistically carved. These articles are purchased
by travellers and are taken to foreign countries. There
is some export in these articles too. If we want to
export, a regular study of the taste of the people seems
to be necessary.

IJZ ' COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

Many articles of domestic use are imported from
foreign countries, many of which can easily be made
in India,

Artistic wares In many places old artistic designs
still survive. There is a lot in this art which if pro-
perly organised is likely to supply the need of the modern
world. Inlaid work or enamelled work of Multan
may be an instance. Bidriware of Hyderabad may be
another instance. In the former work is done in silver
buttons. The latter is an old art started during the
period of Bahamni kings. Zinc and copper are alloyed
in certain proportions. This alloy assumed jet black
colour. Tne articles are finished with charcoal and
sesame oil. Articles are then moistened with
copper sulphate and carved. In the crevices so made
silver sheets and wires are hammered and polished.
They are then heated and smeared with a special type
of earth. Trays, match box and other articles are made
in this fashion.

In number of cities perambulators were made
before the War. During the War bicycle parts are
being made in number of places. How far these attempts
will survive is a question which only future will decide*
In other countries parts are made in small establishments
and there is absolutely no reason as to why such articles
cannot be made with advantage in our country.

Silverwares Rich people use silver utensils. Differ-
ent artistic designs are made for presentation on cere-
monial occasions. There is a good trade in foreign
countries in these articles. Beautiful designs and
carvings are made. It is an art which gives living
in many centres to a number of people.

Since the advent of different types ot alloys, Ger-
man silver is used both alone as well as in admixture
with silver. This brings down the prices to some
extent and the mixtures take a better polish. But in
order to preserve the industry it seems to be necessary
to protect the consumer from the dekler and the

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 173

genuineness of the metalware should be guaranteed.

Ornaments Perhaps in the east throughout orna-
ments are worn by the children and women. Certain
ornaments are included in the religious customs which
must be worn on certain occasions. In every village
there arc found one or two goldsmiths doing this
work. New types of designs are coming into fashion.
During last few years rich people are mostly depending
upon the urban goldsmiths and the village worker is
feeling the pinch of it. It seems to be desirable that
there must be some method to acquaint the village
worker in new designs so that the latter may keep pace
with the modern and up-to-date fashion and designs.

We need not go into the desirability or otherwise
of the use of precious metals for this purpose. But
it must be admitted that gold and silver for this
purpose is consumed considerably and most of it is
converted in ornaments giving employment to many
artisans. There is a need of organizing this industry.

FIBRE AND STRAW INDUSTRY

It is one of the most useful industries to agricul-
ture, India is the main supplier of jute fibre to the
world. It also exports jute bags and other articles made
of it. The area under this crop amounts to 30 lacs of
acres every year. There are other fibre-crops besides
cotton and its area on an average is estimated to be
88,000 acres. It is regretted that fibre plants have received
a spasmodic and ineffective attention. Most important
indigenous fibres are San Hemp (crotalaria juncea),
Deccan hemp (Hibiscus cannalinsuns) and agava.
Besides these plants coir from coconut is another
important fibre in places near the sea coast. Fibre is
also extracted from the twigs and wood of many
plants. Government gardens have tried a few more
fibre plants of which Rozalla (Hiluscus sahdariflfa),
bow string hemp (Boheneria ninea), Manila Hemp
(musa Textiles), Newzealand Hemp (Phornrium Tenax)

174 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

may be mentioned. All these plants yield fibres in
foreign countries and they enter into the com-
merce of the world. So far no attempt worth the
name has been made to acclimatize these plants as
regular crop. Still there are quite a number of wild
plants which yield very strong fibre. From time
to time Government experts have collected their names
and have done nothing more. In foreign countries
Thespesia Lampas and Urena Lohata are being tried
as jute substitutes. Both of them grow wild in India.
Some attempts were made to extract banana fibre but
the industry could never be established in spite of the
fact that we destroy lacs of banana plants every year.
Sisal hemp, though in Java and other places, has assumed
an important place as an article of trade, but in India
it has always remained a hed^e plant. We are satis-
fied with employing a few prisoners in jail and using
small quantities of fibre in making strings and twines.
Its utility has been established by big plantations started
by foreigners in the country.

In spite of the fact that we arc very rich in fibre
material still we import cordage and ropes to the extent
of 15,000 cwts. a year. Japan, though not an agri-
cultural country, exports simply hemp plaited articles
worth more than 40 lacs of rupees a year. It has been
proved several times that most of our fibres can be used
for twines, pack threads and fishing nets, etc., and that
these articles can be easily manufactured in cottages
still no attempt has been made to organise these indus-
tries.

Before proceeding further it may not be out of
place to describe a few important plants which yield
the commercial fibre. Jute is the most important
fibre in which Bengal has a considerable export and it is
exported both as fibre as well as gunny bags. Re*
cently doth and carpets are being manufactured.
Barring few places jute fibre is very little utilised by the
cottage worker. In Bengal very coarse cloth-bags,

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 17 J

strings and ropes are made from this fibre but mostly
the fibre is sold to the mills.

The next important fibre is the san hemp which
grows mostly in northern India. It is mostly used
for making ropes for agricultural purposes turned into
Tat pattis and a little quantity is exported. It is also
grown as a green manuring crop and ploughed down
For manure. If plants are allowed to grow to the
flower stage and then cut roots may enrich the soil and
the plant may yield fibre. Its utility for spinning as
well as for making puttis is established but no serious
attempt has so far been made to utilise it for this pur-
pose to a great extent. In Deccan Ambari or Dcccan
hemp is grown as fibre crop. Though it is not as
strong as san hemp but its utility as a fibre for ordinary
purpose is well established. Its leaves arc also used
as vegetable and seed is sometimes used for oil. Its
crushed seeds in times of scarcity -are mixed with
flour and eaten. Agava is another important fibre.
If we would have studied its agricultural side and would
have established some method of manufacture of
fibre from leaves we could have used this fibre for many
useful articles. The method of retting and extracting
fibre by pounding is a very crude and defective method.
Department of industries in Bombay is said to have
devised a machine which is said to be well suited for
that province. We do not consider this machine has
become popular. Efforts should be continued till a
good machine worked by power may be installed
in suitable centres where this plant grows either as a
hedge plant or in plantation.

In I93J we studied in Hungary and Italy specially
the extraction of fibre from hemp, and we were very
much impressed by the improvements made therein.
The first and the foremost point is to prepare the fibre*
The finer and whiter the fibre the better the price.
In Hungary fibre is used for making canvas cloth and
in Italy the fibre is used both alone and mixed with

176 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

cotton and other fibres for cloth. This is also bleached
and dyed. The Imperial Forest Institute, Dehra Dun
has brought out recently a pamphlet on the subject
which gives a long list of fibre plants. This will
convince everybody of the necessity of utilising this
raw material.

The first step in fibre industry is the question of
the extraction. Hbre is generally extracted by retting
in water. Fibre is a part of the skin of the upper por-
tion of the plant consisting of gums, pectins and other
organic material which cannot easily be removed with-
out retting in water. Plants are cut and submerged in
water, and some mud, bricks, etc., are placed on the same
not allowing them to float. In other countries only
clean water is used for this purpose and stones are used
for keeping the plants down. Clean water takes longer
period in retting but gives a far cleaner product. After
keeping the plant in water for a number of days gums
and pectins arc dissolved. Then the plants are taken
out and left to dry in the sun, put in shooks standing
longitudinally. When they become dry they are stored
to be worked at leisure. Then they are taken to the
factory where they arc further dried by steam and passed
through corrugated rollers. These iron rollers break
the plant into pieces but the fibre remains unaffected.
The drier the plant die easier will be their breakage.
The fibre thus obtained is then taken in hand and shaken,
by which broken parts fall down and only the fibre
remains in hand. This fibre still contains minute parts
of broken wood which must be removed before any
further process can be done. For this purpose the
fibre is placed against a blunt revolving Knife which
removes the wood! and leaves the fibre quite clean. Then
the fibre is carded and woven by machinery.

We saw in Italy another inexpensive method* A
wooden machine is made which consists only of a block
with * slit inside in whose hollow space the retted
dried plant is placed and by another woodtn log hinged

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 177

to the block it is beaten and broken. By doing this way
several times the plant is entirely broken and only the
fibre is left in the hand. Italian farmer thus produces
sufficiently good and fine fibre without any admixture
of wood. Dried plants are broken by a wooden mallet
the work may be effectively done but the quantity
produced will thus be small. In Japan they have made
a more effective machine by revolving a drum over
which iron strips arc fixed through which the plants
are broken.

There are two important things to be noted in the
above process (i) that the plant be retted in clean water
and dried and (ii) the plant may be broken so that the
fibre may easily be separated from wood. We in In-
dia separate the fibre after retting it in muddy water by
hand and then fibre is washed. Our method yields
an unclean and dirty fibre. If drying the plant after
retting and then scutching the same in a dry condition
is introduced the raw material will be very much im-
proved and it will then be capable of taking fast bril-
liant colours. If once we can produce finer and whiter
stuff the industry will expand itself and will give em-
ployment to many more people.

This applies to all types of san hemps, jute, etc.
There is another class of fibres in which the whole
covering portion of the plant is utilised for fibre.
Munj grass is a good instance. It is the dry leaves of
the plant which are turned into fibre by simple beating
and thus dividing the leaves in small portions of fibre.
There is a third variety of fibre in which the entire
grass is used as for instance Baib Grass, and Dab*
Both these types of fibres are utilised in making
strings or bans. In certain localities very fine varieties
of bans are prepared from these fibres* We have
seen in Italy and in other places very cheap wooden
chairs having only four wooden sticks joined to-
gether woven for a seat with these types of strings. la
Madhas of different types are prepared and they

12

178 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

arc made of reeds woven with Munj strings. Some
varieties are very attractive. They provide cheap,
attractive and clean seat. They are more convenient
than chairs. It is a pity that they cannot be easily
exported. If some folding devices are introduced in
their manufacture they may find a very great market.
There is yet another variety of fibre in which the small
and tender twigs are beaten and beautiful strong
fibre results. Dhak twigs as well as Babul twigs are
so utilised and ropes and strings are made out ofthem.
Such fibre is only locally used. Such fibres possess
exceptional qualities of strength, durability as well
of resisting moisture. Instead of importing ropes
from foreign countries if we make our own raw mate-
rial we may stop the import in cordage altogether.

Coir or the nbre of coconut is another gooa mate-
rial. Its main place of manufacture is southern India.
Husks are kept under water for 8 to 10 months
covered with leaf and mats with heavy stones placed on
the mass to submerge it below the surface of water.
When thus retted they arc taken out and beaten to
separate the loosened pitch from the fibre. In some
places the fibre is cleaned with water mixed with
tamarind flour and thus the fibre loses its dirt and becomes
white. After the fibre is thus extracted it is spun and
woven into different forms and shapes.

Coir and coir goods have a fair export to the
foreign market. In 1917-28, 194 tons of coir and 33,069
tons of manufactured goods and 15,811 tons of coir
ropes and cordage valued at 57,088; 11,156; 924 and
258,991 rupees respectively was exported to foreign
countries. If properly organised and improved methods
of manufacture adopted, the consumption and manu-
facture can be considerably increased. This is an industry
which gives an employment to agriculturists in their
leisure hours. Similar is the case with the palmyra fibre
which is also an article of trade and the fibre is used
for brushes in foreign countries. Aloe fibre is another

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 179

important fitre which is extracted in a crude method
in jails. There exists a big plantation in Mysore
State where fibre is extracted by machine and thread
of good strength is made from it. There are cheap
mechanical methods by which more and better fibre
can be extracted but very little attempt seems to have
been made in introducing these methods.

All the above and many other fibres are used for
the manufacture of ropes, strings, mats, foot boards
and for many other articles. Tne importance of this
raw material points out the necessity of systematically
studying the details of the industry and putting it on
a very sound basis.

Mat industry It is entirely a neglected industry.
From very old times different types of mats are manu-
factured in the different parts of the country. But their
demands have remained confined to localities where
they are manufactured. Japan used to send different
types of attractive mats both painted, decorated and
plain and they were at once patronized by Indians show-
ing thereby that there existed a demand 'for this cheap
article. There is no reason why Indian mats would not
have been consumed if they would have been organised
by the same method as in Japan. Mats in Japan are
made by poor people and in cottages. Their position is
no way better than our people but since they were or-
ganised by the Government and the trade was pushed
forward, Japan could provide work for their countrymen
while our workers remained helpless and starving. In
India, barring the fibre mats, different types of leaves are
employed for this purpose. These mats are generally
brittle and when oriea are easily broken and so their
export has not found favour. Fortunately there are
grasses, just as good if not better, which can produce
just as good a matting as produced hi Japan. Sital-
pattis of Bengal and Korai matting or Madras ate
well-known types which produce very fine mats and
they can easily be exported and can stand travelling

l8o COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

long distances. No attempt seems to have been made
to grow korai grass at other places. If a thorough
search be made we are sure that many more grasses
will be found useful for this purpose. But who is
to make such a research ?

Braided and Plaited Goads Japan exports braided
and platted goods over and above the mats which we
have discussed above. Fibre braids coloured or plain,
are very common. They arc turned into different
articles such as hand -bags, fancy curtains, etc. The
biggest use is made of wheat or barley straw in this
connection. Though wheat straw is a valuable fod-
der but barley straw is difficult to be cut or treaded
fine and so it is not palatable to the cattle. From the
point of view of a plait maker it is the best straw.
Mostly straw hats and other articles arc made out of it.
Straw can easily be decolourised by sulphur fumes and
then it can easily be given fast dyes. The straw can
also be used as a drink-stick. It is far cleaner and sani-
tary than the parafttnncd paper generally used. All
countries use straw for this purpose.

IStgffabh Brjstfes It is anotncr valuable line to uti-
lise fibre and many twigs of plants. We import large
quantities of brushes every year from foreign countries,
tnough brush making is our oldest an. If a proper
investigation be made we can export large quantities
of bristles to foreign countries and can utilise them
ourselves.

Hand-made Paper It is another fibre industry. In
Japan hand-made paper is mostly used for writing
in Japanese characters. If legislation is enacted to uti-
lise only hand-made paper for certain purposes it may
find a better sale. Japanese have devised small digest-
ing pans, small electric driven beaters and a very in
genious and inexpensive method of drying paper with
die help of heat kindled and maintained by the rubbish
locally available. All these devices can easily be
introduced and the cost of making paper can be brought

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

down. Quantity of paper can also be improved.
In Japan generally a ream of 450 sheets is easily made
per day by one man. We do not know why our out-
put is so low.

All varieties of paper for which there exists only
a limited demand may useful iy be manufactured by
hand. It will never be worth while for big factories
to take to these articles. Blotting and filter paper
may be such kinds. Costly papers like invitation
cards, fancy writing pads etc, are prepared in all coun-
tries by hand. At any rate this industry can only exist
on patronage. Some type of patronage may be creat-
ed in the country for special types of papers.

Paper machine: Is an art which dates back from
centuries. Kashmir is well known for artistic designs
in paper machine and even to-day beautiful articles
are made. There is a need for a flow of new designs
and its use for new articles, if we care to keep people
in trade. Decorations require change according to
fashion and taste of the people. The more the literacy
spreads the more will DC the waste paper available.
It the industry develops we can make good use of the
waste material and will be able to feed many mouths
by this industry.

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Bidi : From a very long time tobacco is one
of the important cash crop in India. Practically
in every city and town there are people who prepare
and sell tobacco for Hukka smoking. Most of the
people are addicted to smoking. But since Hukka
is not handy to be taken from place to place nor fire
is easily available, Bidi is the poor man s luxury. It
is difficult to trace the history of this industry but no*
body can deny that it is India's invention* To trace
a suitable leaf and to prepare the tobacco which will
easily burn and to give the necessary blends ate all
the details worked oat by the workers themselves.

1 82 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

There are thousands of children and women employed
in this industry. Bidis are cheap and people of ordi-
nary means prefer them to cigarettes. Tne industry
must have developed much more but for the fact that
the leaves employed are not available throughout the
country. The Bidi makers are not tobacco farmers.
The Department of Agriculture has not taken any
interest in blending or the propagation of trees for the
supply of leaves, nor in culturing the proper type of
tobacco. No attempt seems to have been maae to
discover other leaves suitable for the purpose. We
arc sure that there must be found many more varie-
ties of leaves if a proper search is made. If proper
blending of tobacco is done we can certainly produce
Bidi, wnich will suit the fashionable people and will
replace cigarette. The blending of tobacco and the
preparation of tobacco is a highly developed art and
all that knowledge ought to be applied to this impor-
tant industry. We see a great future of this industry if
intelligent scientific people take interest in its improve-
ment. It will prove to be a good subsidiary occupation
for the agriculturist and must be encouraged.

In spite of such a simple occupation the cream of
business goes to the middlemen and the Karkhane-
dars do a brisk trade while the labourers are paid
low. In spite of all this it is quite a suitable cottage
industry. The extent of business can be gauged by
the fact that in Bombay there are number of Karkhanas
employing more than one hundred people. The out-
put or one of these establishments is 5 lacs of rupees
and that of the other 6 lacs in a year.

The importance of tobacco industry can be gauged
by the fact that in 1938-39 we imported tobacco and
tobacco products worth more than one crore of rupees.

Cheroots and Cigars : It Js a very old and import-
ant industry in South of India. It is very difficult tx>
say as to how this industry was first started. Trichno-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 1 8 J

poly started it first. The first firm began work in 1850*
About 1870 Waraiyar manufacturers imported people
from Pondichery who could wrap and roll cigars
more neatly with their left hand. These cigars became
very popular and began to be exported to Europe.
Though tasteful and agreeably pungent Indian cigars
are at a disadvantage in as much as their colour is darker
and their flavour is not as good as of the foreign make.
About 1890 Messrs. Spencer & Co. entered the field
and they have now practically a monopoly of this trade.
It proves beyond doubt as to what can be achieved
by the proper organisation of an industry, however
small it may be.

We give a short description of this industry from
Madras Report :

"It is said that peculiar saltish water of Dindigul
and other parts of the Madura District is specially suited
for the growth of tobacco used for cigar manufacture.
The chief growth of characteristics of the smoking
tobacco is its ready ignition and retention of fire*
This sort of tobacco is available in places where the
soil and water contain nitrous salts, i.e., nitrate of potas-
sium and sodium.

Tobacco intended to be converted into cheroots
is dipped for a night in pots of fermented jaggery water
to which some salts are added and is taken out the
next morning and dried in shade so that it might be
soft enough for working. It is generally wrapped

etc/'

The above description shows that the method
of manufacture can easily be learnt and there are number
of places in India where this type of tobacco can be
grown. In the whole of Hisar and part of Rohtak
water contains nitrous salts. There are other places
containing nitrous salts where tobacco easily grows*
If the industry goes in intelligent hands, it can be
considerably .developed and we do not see any reason

1 84 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

why the import of cigars cannot be entirely stopped.
It is also possible to build foreign trade*

CigarettesPot ordinary cigarettes automatic ma-
chines may be required. The factory does not require
much labour. Even the power required is not much.
We do not see any reason as to why small factories
employing only a few hands cannot be started. If the
industry is started on cottage scale in different localities
it will give employment to agricultural labour inas-
much as large numbers will be required for growing,
picking and curing tobacco leaves. With such a huge
population, most of whom smoke tobacco, there is a
good chance of creating a subsidiary occupation for
the agriculturists.

Though the Department of Agriculture has done
a lot in the introduction of various strains of American
tobacco and arranging for curing barns but there seems to
have been made no attempt to investigate the possi-
bilities of starting industries connected with tobacco.
It is regretted that the activities of agricultural depart-
ment in India are restricted only to agricultural ope-
rations. The Department takes no interest in the com-
mercial development and research of the utility of
agricultural products. It is one of the main functions
of the Department in America and they daily discover
new uses of agricultural produce by which the farmer
is very much benefited. We wisn that the Depart-
ment should take interest in not only discovering new
uses of our products but at the same time finding sub-
sidiary employments for the cultivator.

Chewing tobacco It is another cottage industry
which gives employment to many people in urban areas.

OIL, SOAP AND PERFUMERY

There are very few places where oil is not pro-
duced in the villages. Since the advent of oil mills
this industry has suffered greatly. Poor men eke out
their living somehow. No improvement* is made in

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES l8j

his equipment nor has he been helped in the purchase
of raw material or the sale of his product. He cannot
be expected to keep stocks of oil seeds, neither he has
the money nor sufficient space for storage. How does
he manage to live is really a miracle.

We are glad to say that Mahatma Gandhi has come
to his aid and the All-India .Spinners' Association is
trying to evolve improved Ghanis and popularising
his products.

Some people put a pertinent question and ask: is
it possible to keep the small oilman in business when
his extraction of oil is so low and his cost of working
is high ? On the face of it the question may be answered
in the negative. But if we give the necessary thought
to this important question we must answer it in the
emphatic affirmative. If the artisan is helped by
the Government, oilman, we are sure, can still hold
his own against the mill industry. We hope the rea-
ders will excuse us for entering into the details of our
arguments.

All oil seeds can be divided into two varieties.
The first variety comprises of those seeds whose oil
cake is a valuable feed for the cattle and the second are
those whose oil cake cannot be so utilised. We need
not say that the value of oilcakes as a feed lies in its
protein and fat contents, fat being more important
than protein. Protein contents of oilcake remain the
same whether they are made by the small man or by
the factory. As tar as we are aware the digestibility
of oilcakes prepared in the mills and the ghanis has not
been compared, but the palatability of the oil cakes
prepared in the ghanis is considered to be high. Oil
contents in the oilcakes prepared in ghanis is certainly
high than the oilcakes of the mills. It is unfortunate
that ghani oilcakes fetch the same price as those of
the mills and the government or the department of
Agriculture has never cared to grade oilcakes accord*
ing to their oil contents* If this would have been done

1 86 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

the oilman must have been compensated for his labour.
We cannot expect a wooden Government to take
interest in stopping adulteration in cattle feeds when
they have not done anything in connection with human
feed. Thus the readers will see that the industry is
being killed not on account of its inherent fault but
more because we have not adopted the method of guaran-
teeing oil contents of oil cakes in the country. Will
the officials come to the aid of the industry now ?

Second point which we want to impress is the
edibility of the oil itself. Sesame and mustard oils
are generally used for human consumption. Mill
made oils are not so good as those which are made by
ghanis. The more oil you express the more impuri-
ties you add to it. All gums, pectins, etc., are mixed up
with oil in mill extraction. If oil so extracted is to be
purified by the use of caustic soda we shall have to re-
move the alkali by some other means. Cold drawn
oil from the ghani is far more suitable than the mill
made oil for edible purposes. That being so, is it not in
public interest to protect and help ghani oil for edible
purposes? People who use oil as food will be quite
willing to pay higher price for genuine, unadulterated
oil extracted by ghanis against mill oil. If Government
makes a law to prohibit mills to extract sesame and
mustard seed oil industry in the villages will at once
be doing a useful service and can easily be established.
We wish that by law the function of ghanis be separated
from those ot the mills and encouragement to this
dying industry be given.

Ghanis can be more useful in extracting castor oil
for medicinal purposes. This oil sells at a far higher
rate than the ordinary castor oil. If the industry
is organised India can stop the import of this oil and
can supply the foreign market with it.

We further visualise that refined oil must replace
the hydrogenated oil. Of course, the use of refined oil
as an adulterant of Ghee, for which the hydrogenated

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 187

oil is mostly used, may not be so readily acceptable but
for frying and other uses it will prove to be tar cheaper
than the hydrogenated oil. If this industry is grafted on
to the Ghani industry, the latter can easily survive.

It does not mean that we should not try to make
improvement in our ghanis. By all means the im-
proved kolhus designed by the All-India Spinners'
Association may be introduced and full advantage of
the up-to-date machines be taken. We rather desire
that electric ghanis must be started in villages for oils
not used for food.

There are number of other oil seeds whose oil has
specific properties and whose quantity is not so large
as to attract the mill people to take to their crushing.
If these oils are properly advertised there can be created
a demand for them and they are likely to give a remu-
nerative wage. Margosa or Nim oil may be mentioned
as an instance. Its specific disinfectant qualities are
very well known and it fetches a high price in several
localities.

In spite of the fact that in most of the universities
in India, wherever industrial chemistry is taught as a
subject, oil and soap is the main subject taught and
yet we have not been able 'to replace articles like oil
cloth, linoleum, varnish and paint which we import
every year to the tune of lacs of rupees.

Paint and Varnish Practically in every city there
are hundreds of people who used to get their living
by making paints and varnishes. Barring very ordi-
nary types now all varnishes and paints are purchased
by these artisans and their trade is practically ruined*
Manufacture of paint and varnish does not require
very 'elaborate machinery, barring a good mixing
and grinding equipment. We wish that this trade
should remain in the hands of the cottage workers
specially when we know that many of these artisans
are quite intelligent, ingenious and know their job*
If we utilise; them and encourage them we shall not

1 88 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

stand in need of imports from foreign countries. It
is a pity that we export linseed to foreign countries
and tnen again get the same oil in the form of varnish
and paint and pay exorbitant price for the same.
Perfumery and Essential Oils Oil seeds perfumed
with flowers and then expressed give perfumed oil.
The demand for this type of oil will always remain small
and so this work will have to be done by the small
man. Refining oil and making it thin to suit the taste
of the people and perfuming the same by scents is
another industry which employs a few people in cities.
If the work is done by more intelligent people who have
the experience and knowledge of chemistry, this in-
dustry is likely to become very prosperous. The
blending of perfume is an art and cannot be taken up
bjr anybody and everybody. Even now very expensive
oils are imported from abroad and people are willing
to pay fancy prices for them. Many chemists can earn
much more than their salaries, if they take to perfumery
and oil-refining trade.

Essential oil industry has assumed quite a big
dimension in other countries and there is a big scope
for its expansion in this country. In spite of the synthetic
perfumes there is still a great demand for genuine
article provided it is available. Laws for grading
and guaranteeing the genuineness of an article are
absolutely essential to protect the industry. But our
cry seems to be in the wilderness. We hope the next
Government may take more interest in these things*
In Kanauj (U.P.) still there are many people depending
upon the manufacture of Khas, Chameli and other oils.

Research is a great necessity. In Java when the
sugar industry was given a set-back, Java Government
started developing the Khas plant and succeeded in
producing a strain which develops three times the
Khas essential oil than what Indian plant contains
with the result that within a short period they mono-
polised the trade of the world and India lost its posi-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 189

tion. You cannot expect an ordinary illiterate man to
find ways and means for such improvements. The
Research Board does not try to solve such things,
as the poor man is neither vocal nor there is anybody
to look to his needs. Need we point out that Khas
plant grows at a place where nothing else will grow.

We are glad that Mysore Government has started
the plantation and has planted big areas of waste land
under Khas cultivation.

India is full of plants yielding essential oils. Some
work has been done in Dehra Dun Forest Research
Institute. Thanks to the indefatigable work of Dr.
S. Krishna who is always keen to find out new field
for his activities. We require hundreds of chemists
like him to investigate the possibilities of our products.

We wish that the useful research literature published
in Dehra Dun is made available in our own vernaculars
so that the man who matters may be able to utilise it.

IiMcalyptus Oil It is an important medicine and is in
great demand. The trees grows all over India with ease.
It grows to a great height in a short period. 17 years
old plant is considered to have leaves of right maturity.
Extraction of oil is very simple. Leaves are taken
from the plant and are allowed to dry in the shade.
When they are dried they are transferred to a still
ordinarily 4 ft. high and z ft. in diameter made with
copper plates at the bottom and iron sheets at the sides.
At a little distance there is placed a false perforated
bottom under which water is kept to generate steam.
An outside arrangement to replace water is kept.
Over the perforated plate, the leaves are placed, and
the still is tightly closed. In this ltd above there is
a pipe which takes the steam from the still to the con*
denser which is kept surrounded with cold water.
Steam along with oil is condensed. It has to be fur-
ther decanted and again mixed with small quantity of
water and a little of caustic soda and again distilled in
a smaller still. By this treatment oil becomes white and

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

is sold to trade. It is a cottage industry mainly prac-
tised in Nilgiri where Eucalyptus is a common tree
and is cut mostly for firewood. The oil is mostly
produced at contracted rates settled with the dealers
who make advances to the distillers.

Lemon Grass Oil In number of places lemon grass
oil is similarly prepared and sold. The grass also grows
abundantly in number of places and there is a good
demand for this oil both in the country and outside.

Other essential oils can be mentioned such as
acacia, rose, thyme, mint, lemon oil (Citronella),
etc. If the essential oil industry is well organised it
can give employment to both the distillers and the
agriculturists. The arrangement for steam distilla-
tion is auite simple and can easily be adopted.

Fist) Oil Extraction offish oil is a very old indus-
try in Madras. Small establishments do this work.
Fish after extraction is used as manure. This industry
has assumed considerable importance since the time it
has been discovered that shark oil contains vitamins
useful to human body. There is likely to be develop-
ed a foreign trade in this article.

Ordinary fish oil is used for making soap, jute
batching, sheet tempering, in the manufacture of paints,
varnishes and for other purposes. The method of ex-
traction is very simple. Fish are boiled over fire with
water. By heating oil comes on the surface. Fish
is filled in sacks and is pressed in ordinary screw press
by which the remaining oil is pressed out. Then oil
and water are kept for some time so that oil may float
over water and may easily be decanted.

SOAP

Soap making is a very old industry. Before the
use of caustic soda India was making its soap both
from ret and sajji matti and vegetable sajji. In all
big cities reh or sajji was causticised by caustic lime
and boiled with oil to produce soap. Though the tech-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES

nique of soap making was not studied in all its details
yet good washing soap was prepared and sold. It
is said to possess more washing properties than the
washing soap now manufactured, perhaps due to the
presence of potash and free alkali.

Soap manufacture has become now a fine art and
requires a great deal of experience and knowledge
to prepare a good soap. There exist a great many
type of soaps which are now made and sold under
fancy names. Though factories require quite an ela-
borate arrangement for soap manufacture, yet skill
and good technique will always produce good soap.
All semi-boiled and cold process soaps and so also
liquid soaps can be and are made in cottages.

It is a pity that in order to cheapen soap people
adulterate them with soapstone, starch, etc., which
have absolutely no detergent properties. In spite of
many big factories, we still believe, there is a large scope
for a good intelligent worker provided instead of using
inert fillers the manufacturers are given an insight
into the use of detergents which produce soap both
at once cheap and useful. Local soaps can always
command a good sale provided they are well maae.
We wish short courses may be provided to give train-
ing in soap manufacture and sufficient knowledge
in the up-to-date methods of manufacture. Of course
the provision of raw material will be necessary. This
cleaning substance can and must be produced in every
village and must provide employment to a great many
people. Raw material and market being at hand there
is a good scope for this industry.

Specialised soaps, which have a little demand
but where the margin of profit is very high, can better
be made on a small scale provided some chemists
utilise their time in the technique and investiga-
tion.

Timber and Wood iMfasftyTbi* industry gives
employment .to thousands of people. There are spe-

192 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

clal facilities existing in India to do this work on a cot*
tagc scale.

In spite of the forest services being sufficiently
old and the Research Institute, Dehra Dun doing
useful work we cannot help saving that our forests
are not systematically developed. Commercial utili-
sation of forests is yet in its infancy. Whatever in-
dustries are started wherein a special type of wood
is needed we are always confronted with the remark
that the quantity available is so small and distributed
that we cannot make use of it on a commercial scale.
Good timber for making pencil was not found avail-
able in the country and it has to be imported. Simi-
lar was the case with match. For making bobbins
we are confronted with the same difficulty. We con-
sider that the Forest Department should give a better
account of itself. In cases where suitable timber is not
available we must have proper arrangement for utilising
Indian wood, made suitable by artificial means of
impregnation, seasoning or the like.

Sine* timber is generally distributed at long dis-
tances we are not able to start big saw mills as they
are found in other countries. Fortunately, there-
fore, the work of sawing timber has to be done by
hand and about 80% of work is, so carried out. Saw-
ing is, therefore, likely to remain a cottage work.
But this is likely to handicap us by raising the price
of our raw material and debarring us from the utili-
sation of waste wood which has to be left for rotting
at the place where logs are prepared. Valuable bark
of the trees, leaves and twigs and the sawdust have
all to be destroyed in the forest and is a dead national
loss. Suitable cheap arrangement for transport there-
fore, is the greatest need tor the development of our
forest resources.

The main objection raised against our timber is
that it is full of knots and cannot be utilised for good
furniture. Is it not due to the bad handling of the

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 193

growth of the trees? If so, the fault does neither
Be in the varieties of trees nor in the trees themselves
but in the propagation of trees and the control of
their growth. We wish that the department may try
to overcome these difficulties so that the propagation
of trees may be better understood and followed. In
future our demand for good timber will be much more
and we should not be confronted with this difficulty
any more.

Plywood In 1937 when we went to Japan we
saw plywood being made on a very small scale. We
could not believe that a similar method of cottage
industry will be adopted in this country. We are
glad that during the War India started producing not
only plywood on a small scale but also succeeded in
producing machinery for this purpose. 'Necessity
is the mother of invention' was found to be true in this
case. We wish that experience gained may not be
lost.

Since it has been established that plywood can
be successfully made on a small scale and that being
so we hope and trust that the cottage workers wiu
not allow this important work to be taken away from
their hands. We are quite conscious of the fact that
during the War articles produced were very inferior
and they w ill no more be tolerated during peace times.
Let the small worker, therefore, utilise to his utmost
the experience gained during this period. Let him
keep his tools quite fit and let him prepare only first
class articles without which his existence will certainly
be jeopardised. We must concentrate on quality
goods. Cheapness will be possible only by a Ibetter
organisation and savings made in the fnethod of work*
ing and by other means instead of using cheap wood
or bad workmanship. The industry has a big future
but its success will entirely depend upon the quality
we produce.

Woodwares It is a very big and extensive line

194 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

and includes packing cases, crates, tent poles, tool
handles, barrels, bobbins, reels, spindles, railway
sleepers, furniture, etc,, etc. It also consists of many
carved articles which have a big sale. Most of the
work is done in small cottages. There is a great
demand for different articles at different places, but the
success of the industry depends Upon the quality and
availability of the material. During the War trees
have been ruthlessly cut down in the forests as well
as in the plains. Timber takes a long time to grow and
unless we concentrate upon conserving our supplies
we shall feel the pinch of shortage very soon. It
seems to be essential that the Forest Department may
take very keen interest in educating people as to how
poor wood can be utilised for better products and
how a tree can be economically used. Therein lies
our future salvation. In Japan even the furniture
required for the houses is standardised and no odds
size is available. This avoids wastage. As soon as a
tree is cut every part of it should be utilised with
economy and propaganda for utilising every piece for its
best should be made.

There is a great weakness in our timber trade
inasmuch as we have no good arrangement for season-
ing. This requires locking up of capital and season
ing is a time-consuming process besides the skill and
technique necessary for its success. To depend upon
private enterprise may not be feasible. The work
should be taken up by the Government and seasoned
wood must be sola by them. Some sort of certificate
certifying the kind of wood employed be introduced
so that tne users of seasoned wood may be protected.
. During theVar bobbins, spindles, reds, etc., are
being made in India which were generally imported
before. It is essential that this trade may be established
now on sound lines. This can only be done by
improving the article on the one hand and patronising
the indigenous article on the other.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 195

In furniture, toy making and also producing
carved articles if division ot labour is introduced
amongst the cottage worker wherein some operations
are performed by one class of people and the other
by others, articles will be made cheaper and quality will
also improve. This is only possible when a reason-
able allocation of the cost of manufacture of different
stages be fixed by some semi-government organisation.

Turning is a good line in wood trade and articles
like cot stands, cradles, cups, tumblers, ash trays, etc.,
are produced in innumerable varieties. Lacquer goods
is another branch quite well done in many places.
To keep the workers in trade attractive designs is the
main need.

Furniture Fashion and taste of the people are
daily changing. Foreigners take advantage of their
study and export very expensive furniture to be consum-
ed in the country. If we want to keep the cottage
worker alive we have to take effective measures so
that the artisans keep pace with the times.

Bamboo, Cane and Rattan Work Articles of beauti-
ful designs consisting of baskets, chairs, screens and
curtains are made practically in all big cities. In Japan
a special study is made of the different varieties of bam-
boos. The variety of article made from bamboo is
perhaps the largest in Japan than elsewhere. It will
pay us if we study and introduce new articles in the
country. Small and big curtains and artistically print-
ed chiles was the main import from Japan, we can
now make all these articles in our own country and
give employment to many. Cane and rattan work
is made in cities and there is a great demand for suchr
type of work. Chairs, tables, waste paper baskets
are some of the articles generally used everywhere*
In some places even carriages made of cane with cycle
wheels drawn by horses are used. They are very
light and well made. It is an art which creates ant
aesthetic taste.

196 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

India produces rattan and cane but they are not
so polished and shining as Malaca canes and, therefore,
we are forced to import the latter. Attempts at grow-
ing better variety be made and conditions under which
it grows more elastic and polished be studied.

Stone Work Industry This industry gives employ-
ment to many people in places where suitable stones
are available. The work is done by hand. Soap-
stone and marble stone chips are made into beauti-
ful artistic articles both plain and inlaid with coloured
pieces. Alabaster is used in other places. Mortar,
pestles, sandal grinders are other articles of domestic
use. Stone is also used for building purposes and for
that purpose ready made articles are sold.

At places where slate stone is available it is used
for roofing and for making writing-slates. If we
survey this industry we find that very artistic designs
and useful and cheap articles are made in number of
places. Some of them would have found a good
market not only at long distances but also would have
been in demand in foreign countries, if exported. For
want of organisation and advertisement they are only
locally sold to the great disadvantage of the illiterate
worker.

Pottery and Ceramics This is the oldest art of the
country. In villages potters used to supply variety
of domestic utensils to every home and were paid in
grain at the time of harvests. The custom is dying
out Potters trade still persists and for big congre-
gations in villages his wares are still the cheapest.
The articles are fragile and cannot be easily exported
so they are made for local use only. Though the in-
troduction of brass and Chinaware has affected the
trade yet for cheapness it has no comparison* It is
a pity that in India there has been no attempt to improve
the industry. In Naples (Italy) we saw beautiful
tcrracota tea sets* In one of the biggest restaurants
we saw all terracota articles used over and over again*

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 197

In India perhaps the people cannot be made to believe
that clay articles can be used over and over again
though chinawares are no better from this point of
view. If clay wares are suitably gla2ed they can cer-
tainly replace chinaware specially locally. If these
are made stronger some of the varieties may easily
be exported. The Department of Industry should
try to introduce scientific knowledge amongst workers
and utilise the existing art. Glazed flooring tiles may
be introduced with advantage.

At places in India potters of their own accord
have produced black glazed pottery and have manu-
factured -tea sets and other beautiful artistic vessels
made of clay. They should be encouraged and their
difficulties should be solved.

Cheap and easily melting glaze from lead salt is
known to the people at many places and occasional
use of it is made locally. What we require is some low
melting glaze mixture made of glass in which lead may
not be used so that these wares may safely be used for
serving food.

Toys and Figures Lucknow and other cities produce
beautiuil figures and toys in clay. They are beauti-
fully decorated and sold very cheap. The artistic
design and their imitation both in colour and shape is
marvellous. These articles can easily find a big sale
not only in India but also in foreign countries provid-
ed the trade is organised and suitable cheap packing
is found for them. Natural imitation of fruits in clay
models can find a good sale in all educational insti-
tutions and can be very good models in clay modelling.

Manufacture of Chinaware has been introduced
in number of places but this is mostly done on a factory
scale. The legitimate share of this trade does not go
to the potter who was entitled to it. We see no reason
as to why ordinary potters cannot be trained to manu-
facture these articles. In Khurja (U.P.) attempt has
been made to introduce the manufacture of stone and

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

chinawares by the potters in their cottages. How far
we shall succeed it is yet early to say. We have seen
the manufacture on a cottage scale of all the articles
in Japan and we see no reason why this cannot be done
in India, If need be, we can import some Japanese
artisans in our country.

The greatest difficulty in the success of this indus-
try is the firing of the articles. If individual furnaces
are made the cost will be prohibitive and the burning
by coal in small furnaces will be expensive. If electric
and coal furnaces be installed by the Government and
reasonable charges for firing DC levied in different
centres there should be no difficulty in developing
this important and useful branch of industry. We
wish in suitable localities where raw material is avail-
able schools in ceramics may be started and part-time
training be given to the artisans. A kiln may be in-
stalled by the school and local workers be asked to
bring their wares to this place for firing., If compe-
tent men are employed the industry is likely to establish
itself.

Slipwares will not require much investment to
begin with. Perhaps it may pay to send a few artisans
for training abroad to master the technique of trade.
BricJks and Tiles Manufacture of bricks is an allied
industry and is already done in the country. The
cream of industry goes to the factory owner and the
wages of labour are very low. Tile making is another
industry and it is only done on a very small scale by
some of the potters out generally this is also a line
taken up by the capitalist. The manufacture of press-
ed cement goods is another line which is likely to give
employment to many people. Cement is produced
cheap enough in the country and the number of arti-
cles made from it are daily increasing. It will be worth
while for the cement marketing board to write out
small pamphlets in the different vernaculars of the
country and to open an institution wherein people

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 199

may be trained in the making of different cement arti-
cles. This attempt will bring about more sales of
their cement and these trainees will serve as their best
advertisers and users. If the cement board does not
take up this work the industrial department may take
it up. There are number of types of clays in the country
which ought to be analysed and their suitability for
ceramics be established. There are other raw mate-
rials necessary in this connection also whose impor-
tance must be enquired into. At present we possess
very little information on this point.

Fire Bricks and Refractory Ericks This is a type of
work which can be done on a cottage scale. So
far very little work has been done and that too by big
capitalists. If arrangement for teaching this impor-
tant line be made most of our young industrial che-
mists with small capital may take up this line with
advantage. In this line too there does not exist suffi-
cient information about the raw material. We are
very rich in refractories and the demand of refractory
material will develop along with the development of
chemical industry. The industry, therefore, should
be systematically organised.

Crucibles From times immemorial India was
making use of its own crucibles. Goldsmiths even to-
day make their own crucibles. Since the time gra-
phite crucibles are introduced Indian-made crucibles
have been discarded.

Crude attempts have been made at number of
places to manufacture graphite crucibles. Inferior
articles cannot easily stand in competition with better
articles of foreign make. It is, therefore, necessary
that up-to-date knowledge may be collected and modern
technique be employed in the manufacture of this
important article.

Crayons and Coloured Pasties Allied to pottery i
the industry of making chalk crayons. Up to re-
cently they were imported; but, now, they ate generally

100 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

made in the country. Gypsum fcnmd in considerable
quantities is powdered and calcined and turned into
plaster of Pans. The latter either alone or mixed with
gypsum powder or other substitutes is cast into crayons
in metallic or wooden moulds. After plaster of Paris
has set crayons are taken out and dried. If colour is
used coloured chalk can be made.

Pasties for writing on paper are also similarly
made with the use of soap and other suitable material.
Plaster of Paris itself and busts made from it can sell
well and at a good profit.

GLASS

Glass is a very old industry in India. It was
not only employed for bangles but heat resisting
glass was made and used in medical preparations by
ancients. Manufacture of optic glass was not unknown
either. Glass, to-day, is a high specialised industry
and requires both technical skill and chemical knowl-
edge over and above the up-to-date equipment. Most
of the articles are even now produced on a cottage
scale and if these artisans are encouraged there is a great
potentiality in developing their trade. We have seen
small furnaces making block glass and supplying it to
small blowers! There are number of cottage workers
who prepare specific articles and supply them to the
public. The entire work of making medicinal phials
is being done on small scale by hundreds of establish-
ments at Nagina in Bijnor District (U.P.). Phials manu-
factured by these artisans are quite good and cheap.
The entire glass-bangle industry in Firozabad is of this
nature. There is a very big scope for developing this
industry and it seems to be essential that the industry
be properly organised and placed on sound basis.

Though the subject is a very big one we shall only
describe the organisation of glass bangles as it is one of
the biggest line in glass trade.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 2OI

Glass Bangles Before the War the total supply of
bangles was distributed as follows:

80% of the total supply was met with by Firosabad
(Agra District U.P.) 15% came from foreign countries
ana 5% were made in other provinces. Not less than
j 0,000 people are employed in this industry. We have
the good fortune to see most of the important establish-
ments and have the time to study their technical details.
Block glass is supplied by a few small furnaces work-
ing in the crudest fashion. Railways have given special
facilities in the supply of coal to this place and this is the
main reason as to why block glass manufacture has
developed in this centre. Firozabad supplies not only
block glass to the bangle makers but also exports to
other places.

We were struck by the ingenuity and skill of the
process that illiterate artisans have developed. As far
as we could ascertain the Government experts have not
given much help to this industry, rather it was com-
plained to us that since the time the distribution of
supplies is taken up by the Government nepotism is
introduced to the detriment of everybody. We cannot,
however, vouchsafe the truth or otherwise of the
complaint. These people have successfully devised
their own cheap but very effective methods and
small equipments to manufacture very complicated
designs. It is true that new designs in bangles were
made by Japan or Czechoslavakia but the bangle makers
sat at them from the time these bangles were* imported
in India and in a very short time evolved methods of
theif manufacture; without knowing chemistry and
physics, without copying others and without any out-
side help, they could not only develop a method of manu-
facture but could also evolve cheap and ingenious
methods to do so. An expert must take off his nat and
must be convinced once for all that there exists an origi-
nality, resourcefulness and persistence in the In-
dian artisan* for which every Indian must be proud.

202 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

These people could achieve miracle if real scientific
help would have been given them. They handle quite
easily number of chemicals whose properties they
understand and take full advantage of them. To create
a mirror effect by depositing silver nitrate in their hollow
bangles, to make use of colloide gold are some of the
instances in point. Without making any expensive
machine a labourer drives an iron rod over which
ingeniously a spiral of bangles is wound up and the
technique is so complete and effective that the sizes
and thickness of bangles must remain uniform. Con-
trol of heat in an open hearth is wonderful. Instan-
taneous joining of bangles on the flame is really start-
ling to an outsider. What would have happened if
these artisans would not have been exploited and would
have been helped by proper education ? We wish the
industrialists and educated economists should see this
place to learn as to how the division of labour is worked
up in practice and minor operations are performed by
number of workmen specialised in their own line.

There is need to help and encourage these men by
honest and sincere efforts in overcoming their minor
difficulties. We were told that during the War Govern-
ment discouraged the industry to their utmost and dubbed
it as a luxury industry without knowing that wearing
of bangles is a religious sentiment amongst Indians.
The workers struggled and came out successful and
prosperous. Will the Government help them now and
encourage these artisans to assume their normal course ?

There is need to regulate internal competition,
standardise their goods and supply them the /raw
material of the suitable type and in sufficient quantities.
Movement of their finished goods have to be expedited
and lastly to utilise their earnings in useful channel.

* It was disgraceful to see the insanitary conditions
under which small children work on kerosine oil
flame. Even ordinary amenities of metalled roads
are not available in this rising town. We wish civic

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 203

responsibility amongst the people be created and
a healthy atmosphere in the city may be introduced.

Glass Beads Government has appointed a glass
expert and his only achievement is a new industry of
making glass beads. We saw this industry in Govern-
ment School at Benares and were only disgusted to see
the insanitary conditions under which the boys are
trained to lose their eyesight and to develop lung dis-
ease. We believe burning of kerosine oil may be
substituted by some other inoffensive oil or electricity
or a method of artificial ventilation may be a possibility.
This industry has a possibility of development and
may be encouraged.

L*at and I <ac Industries Shellac is a side occupation of
agricultural labour. In forests as well as in planes where
shellac is produced number of people are employed in~
its collection, refining, etc. Besides preparing the article
in saleable form shellac bangles are produced in number
of places. Mirzapur and Benares are the main centres of
their manufacture. Quite beautiful and cheap orna-
ments are manufactured out of shellac and they are
not only used by poor people but even rich people
make use of them. Number of artistic articles are made
in Benares and other places.

Shellac is an insulating material and it is in good
demand in foreign countries. Plastic is made from it
and we hope in future there will be a big demand both
in India and abroad of lac articles.

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

Besides the manufacture of Khand (Sugar), jaggery,
flour ginning, etc. there is some work done in cottages
in the manufacture of agricultural implements making
of sickles, plough shares, Persian wheels and the like.
These are manufactured at a few places but no attempt
seems to have been made to help the design or tech-
nique. Nor arrangements are made to supply him the
right type o raw material. Many types of agricultural

204 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

implements can be manufactured on a small scale.
Harrows of different kinds, cultivators, ploughs, chaff
cutters, etc., can all be manufactured on a small scale.
The first thing is that the Agricultural Department
should take interest in designing new implements
and pass them on to the Industries Department to or-
ganise their manufacture. The policy of asking tenders
only from big firms and patronise the capitalist must
cease. The skill and 'workmanship of the small man
must be utilised. The Department knows well that
some of their implements are the outcome of the brain
of our ordinary mistris and they can still do more if
they are properly encouraged. We lay great stress
in using the talents of our carpenters and smiths in
villages who are the hereditary workers to supply the
needs of the farmer. If they are made literate, properly
educated in the manufacture of implements, they can
supply the cultivator with the best and most suitable
tools without disturbing the tillage economy to a great
extent. As long as we pin faith in the import of imple-
ments from foreign countries, no headway will be made
in this line. Both the manufacturers of implements
and agricultural engineer are far away from knowing the
local needs of the people. We have already wasted
several decades without achieving any substantial
results and will lose many more if we do not start now
on the lines suggested above. We see a great future in
India for the use of improved implements but we
shall be sorry if all this trade goes to the foreign manu-
facturer and the Department of Agriculture simply
becomes their advertising agent. Need we emphasise
the experience of the introduction of chaff cutters which
never became popular till Sialkot started to make them
in the country. We wish this trade to remain in the
hands of those who have faithfully served the farmer
and are capable of doing so now if they are given the
proper training and the opportunity.

Food Industries After agricultural implements

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 205

comes the question of food industries. We have no
hesitation to say that the processing of food products
legitimately belongs to the producer. Though both
the Central and Provincial Governments did propaganda
for growing more food but they never cared to organise
the food industries amongst the farmers. They took
the most convenient and easy course of helping the
capitalist to make money out of these industries. Arc
the agriculturists only fit to grow crops and starve?
When the agriculturists were asked to grow vegetables
why were they not organised to dehydrate them ?
A Central Co-operative Factory of the agriculturists
could certainly be organised and the poor man could be
helped. Was canning and preserving so difficult that
the intelligent sons of the farmer could not take to it?
All such things arc done by the farmers in other coun-
tries and the farmers can certainly do them in India.

We give below a list of food industries developed
during the War with Government help and from their
perusal it will be quite clear that Nos. i, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10,

11, 12, I}, 14, 15, l6, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2J, 26, 27,

28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 4*,
43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48, could easily be taken up by the
agriculturists with a proper organisation and training:

i. Biscuits Shakapara. 2. Biscuits Fancy. 3. Chutney.
4. Cigarettes B.T. 5. Cigarettes I.T. 6. Coffee Ground.
7. Condiment powder. 8. Curry powder. 9. Golden
syrup. 10. Lemon juice, n. Lemon juice cordial.

12. Lime juice cordial powder. 13. Mustard ground
Refined. 14. Malt. 15. Pepper ground Refined. 16. Salt

Refined. 17. Tobacco B.T. 18. Amla Sweet. 19.
Arrowroot. 20. Baking powder. 21. Barley pearL
22. Corn flour. 23. Honey. 24. Jellies Assorted. 25.
Oat meal. 26. Pickles. 27. Sauce Table. 28. Vinegar.

29. Custard Powder. 30. Egg powder. 31. Milk
powder. 32. Milk powder (Full Cream). 33. Malted
milk. 34. Dehydrated onions. 35. Dehydrated potatoes.

206 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

36. Dehydrated vegetables. 37. Fruits dried. 38. Jam.
39. Raisins and Nut Rations. 40. Tinned potatoes. 41.
Canned Fruits. 42. Marmalade. 43. Ghi Milk. 44. Oil
Cooking (Refined). 45. Oil Salad. 46. Butter tinned.
47. Oil Groundnuts. 48. Fish dried and smoked.

We emphasise that all food industries must be
reserved for the farmer and others be prohibited to
take to them. If we go on taking all subsidiary occu-
pations from the agriculturist one by one and do not
provide him with new industries, people cannot get a
reasonable wage. The provision of new industries
for the producer is essential from the point of view of a
consumer also in as much as if the agriculturist is paid
for his idle hours his cost of production will be reduced
and articles of food will become cheaper. In all such
industries there will always be a bulk of wastage which
will ultimately go to the manure pit if food articles are
manufactured by people other than farmers while the
latter shall be able to utilise most of these articles as
human or cattle feeds.

We are, however, glad that food industries have
made a good headway during the War and some of them
are well established. Their continuation will remain
ultimately not in the hands of the manufacturer, but the
producer. Proper type of fruit, vegetable and grain
will be the first requisite of success and this can omy be
done by the co-operation of the growers. It may be
the dehydrated vegetables, or the production barley or
the manufacture of rolled oats or canning of fruits in
all cases quality will count. It must be remembered
that processed food is far costlier than the unprocessed
food and that being so the consumer looks to the qua-
lity and not to the cheapness. After the War if the
manufacturer does not care to improve the quality he
will soon be ousted by Quakers' oats, foreign-canned
fruits and mustard and condiment.

Most of these industries have started on a small
scale and they are really the domain of cottage indus-

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 207

tries. If once the agriculturists take to them their
ingenuity will help them and soon their reputation will
be established.

CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

The development of chemical industries is of
paramount importance in any country for its industrial
advancement. In the third part we have given a long
list of Chemical Industries which can be started on a
cottage scale and we shall discuss here only a few
which are already being followed or are introduced
during the War.

The oldest Chemical Industries are four : (i) Salt,
(ii) Potassium Nitrate, (iii) Sodium Sulphate or Khari,
(iv) Sodium Carbonate or Sajji Matti or Sajji. Salt
manufacture is only done under a licence and we need
not say anything more in detail. In our Hindi Book
(Namak) we have described the reasons as to why the
excise duty on salt be abolished so that the quantity
produced may be increased and the poor man need
not purchase his expensive salt. We still maintain
that Indian cattle, if not human beings, suffer from salt
starvation. Some of the industries suffer very badly
on account of excise duty. The concession of excise
free salt is not of very much help to these industries on
account of the delay and botheration involved in se-
curing the same. Besides salt would have been avail-
able to the industries at a far lesser price than that it is
available now. If the excise duty be removed, all
places where salt industry was flourishing in olden times
will again becom? prosperous and people of those
places will reap the benefit of it. It will again become
a source of subsidiary occupation to agriculture.
Places like Bharatpur, Bikaner, Hisar and places near the
sea coast will be producing salt cheaply and efficiently.
Salt wells like those of Gurgaon will again be worked
giving employment to thousands of people who arc
now thrown out of employment with no fault of theirs.

Z08 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

We state with all the emphasis at our command that the
Government has no right not to allow this industry
to be worked at places where no other subsidiary
occupation to agriculture is possible. It is cruel and
criminal of any Government to destroy an existing
profession without giving another alternative to the
people of that place.

Salt manufacture was and is a cottage work costing
nothing and there exist the sill to follow the profession.
Fortunately the best season for work is the time when
the cultivator remains entirely idle, even a small income
from this work can be a great help. Since after the
War there is likely to be a far higher demand for salt
we invite the Government's attention to remove the
excise duty,

Sodium Carbonate There are wild grasses which
contain quantities of sodium carbonate. Before the
Lablance process was discovered soda carbonate was
made from ashes. Spain was the main centre of this
industry. From times immemorial this practice exists
in the country and industry has survived till
now. In Punjab and Sind even now sajji is made by
burning wild grasses. It is used both for medicine and
food. This being a subsidiary industry, arrangement
to grade the products and supplying better technique
be made.

Sodium Sulphide It is a next step from sodium
sulphate. This chemical was imported but during
the War there arose difficulties of transport and en-
couragement was given to the manufacture of it in the
country. Though it seems to be a paying proposition
to change sodium sulphate into sulphide but in order
to place the industry on a sound footing economics of
its manufacture must be studied. We are glad that
huge deposits in Jodhpur State are being exploited and
factory to manufacture sodium sulphide on a big scale
are under consideration. How will this affect the

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 209

small manufacture is yet early to say. Cheap sodium
sulphide will be a great help to leather trade.

Hydrochloric Acid The manufacture of this article
in Bengal is a cottage industry, and it is manufactured
in earthen pots with very little investment. With a
small control and improved equipment it can easily
stand against big factories.

Nitric Acid The same applies to the manufacture
of this article.

Alums y Iron and Copper Sulphates There arc other
Chemicals which are and can easily be manufactured
on a small scale.

Sodium Silicate It is manufactured on a cottage scale
in number of places. If people improve the technique
of coal economy this industry can easily be established.

There are other chemicals, drugs and pharmaceu-
tical preparations whose list is quite a large one, which
can be prepared on a small scale provided the manu-
facturer possesses the necessary knowledge, skill and
technique. With such a large number of chemists
in the country we hope they will have the enterprise
to start their own manufacture. The margin is still
sufficient to keep these establishments going.

MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES

Below we give some of the cottage industries
which are already in existence and which with bette*
organisation can be placed on sound footing. Many
fancy articles such as dolls and toys, coconut shell cover-
ing, fancy leaf boxes (Palmyra), ornamental fans,
engraving on either copper and brass and other metals,
ivory work, fancy horn articles are some of the impor-
tant articles made in cottages. They only have generally
a local demand and sometimes are purchased as
curios, but if properly advertised and their popularity
is organised their sale can be considerably increased.
For pushing up these articles a propaganda is needed.
We can export many of these articles in quite a large

210 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

number and can reap a rich harvest and give employ-
ment to many people in the country.

Musical instruments is another line in which a
few artisans are employed. This line can easily be
developed.

Pi/A Work Jn some places pith work is beauti-
fully done. Tanjore in Madras is a centre of this type
of work. Temples, mosques, etc., are made in pith
work and arc in great demand in the locality. It is
a good line to develop the aesthetic taste of the students
and it will be a suitable subject in the curriculum of
basic education. Shola hats arc sold in the country
in sufficient number and their main beauty is their
light weight. The grasses giving shola pith grow
wild in Bengal. In Delhi and other places these hats
are prepared from piths. India abounds in pith-pro-
ducing plants and we can introduce this industry in
number of places with advantage.

Umbrellas are made in number of places from
imported ribs. It is a common industry in Bengal.
There is difficulty in getting the right type of cloth
and ribs at cheap rates. This industry ought to be
properly organised.

List not lixhaustive The above list can be made
more extensive and so also the description may be
expanded. We have not the space to go into more
details but this will convince the readers that cottage
industries are far more an important subject in extent,
variety and employment than the organised industries.
It is a pity that poor man is left to struggle himself
and no attempt has been made to place cottage indus-
tries on a sound footing. If scientific knowledge,
mechanical skill and economic organisation are placed
at the disposal, the cottage worker in India can be more
easily and quickly industrialised without waiting for
the capital goods to be imported from abroad. It
is a pity that cottage industries, being in the hands of
the poor man who is neither vocal nor pushing, arc

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING INDUSTRIES 211

always left in the lurch. We are sure that in the future
political dispensation of the country this step-motherly
treatment will disappear and existing industries win
be organised, improved, protected, and encouraged so
that the standard of the people be raised and the money
be better distributed amongst the masses than it is
ever likely to be done through big industries.

PART III

NEW INDUSTRIES

The cursory treatment given to cottage industries
by the Bombay Planners and afterwards by most of
the writers on Post-War Reconstruction clearly shows
that the thinking public is not yet convinced of the
huge possibilities in the development of cottage indus-
tries. In the previous pages we have tried to show
the details of different existing cottage and small-scale
industries. Yet it is by no means an exhaustive list.
Many more things can be added to them. The number
of people actually employed in all such industries
cannot easily be known. The figures available are
only underestimates. But whatever data is avail-
.able, clearly justifies the conclusion that even to-day
cottage industries employ far larger population than
all big industries combined. We have tried to show
at another place that the employment to a huge popu-
lation of this country cannot be given by the introduc-
tion of big-scale industries. For giving employment
to our people, cottage and small-scale industries are
the only means of solution. It should not be mis-
understood that we in any way disparage the value
of big-scale industries. We do feel big industries
have their own place and they must be developed.
We are auite conversant that some industries cannot
be started on a small scale and we have to concentrate
not only in rraking our country self-sufficient in the
manufacture of all finished goods, but also we must
arrange to manufacture capital goods from which
finished articles are made. We should manufacture
Automobile engines, aeroplanes, all type^ of auto-

NEW INDUSTRIES 2 1 J

matic and ordinary machines and should not depend
upon any other country for their supply. But in con-
sidering the economic development of the country
we feel that we should not lose sight of the fact that
we are forty crores, and lacs of people are increasing
every year. To create unemployment and then to
arrange for doles can never prove a good solution.
When we realise that the* numoer of people, who will
deserve charity or help from the Government, will
be sever; 1 crores we cannot but rely upon finding out
employment for them. We must understand that
charity or dole always demoralises a nation. Many
of us may like to starve, as they have always been
doing, rather than accept charity. Employment is
the only solution and it can only be provided by cot-
tage and small-scale industries. We would like to
appeal to our industrialists, with all the emphasis
at our command, that they should desist from starting
industries which are already being followed by the
cottage or small workers. There is ample scope for
big industries. Let them allow the cottage indus-
tries to live, develop and multiply.

Both for the Government as well as for the people
it seems desirable that they should, while planning and
introducing new industries, go into the question wheth-
er that article can be made on a small scale and if
they are convinced that it cannot be done, then and
then alone they should try to establish big industries.
If they do not give preference to cottage and small-
scale industries they will not be able to solve the main
problem. Not only we require new cottage and small-
scale industries for manufacturing articles, which we
are purchasing now from foreign countries, but we
require many more occupations for agriculturists, who
have sufficient leisure from agriculture, which may
serve as subsidiary occupations and add to their scanty
earnings. It would be a dream to think of laising the
standard of the masses without raising the income of

a 14 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

the agriculturists, which can only be done by finding
out subsidiary occupations for their leisure hours.

Considering from both points of view it is? im-
perative to add to the list of existing industries for
which there already exists a demand in the country.

There is yet another side of this question even
if we want big industries to develop and considering
that they are likely to employ all our surplus labour,
big industries cannot be easily started for another
few years, as there is and there will be a deficiency
in securing capital goods. India shall have to wait
till machinery is available from foreign countries. But
if we take to cottage and small-scale industries most
of the machines can be manufactured and a few models
may be purchased and improved upon to suit our
conditions. This is all the more reason that we should
concentrate immediately upon the development of
cottage and small-scale industries.

Before we go into the details of new cottage in-
dustries we beg to point out some of our handicaps.
In other countries of the world Trade Reviews annual-
ly issued by the Government contain details of imports
for different articles as well as the details of export.
In India we do not have these details and in most of
the cases different articles arc grouped together and
their detailed imports cannot be worked out separately.
We do require many more details and the Depart-
ment of Imports and Exports should be sufficiently
strengthened so that we may be able to supply details
to the public at large for whatever goods and articles
that information is needed. In starting a new industry the
knowledge, the extent of the consumption is a necessity,
without which planning cannot be done. The extent
can only be made available from import figures. For
an undeveloped country, like ours, we would have
expected that our annual Reviews ought to have contained
figures in much more detail and at the same time
Government experts ought to have indicated what

NEW INDUSTRIES

articles out of those are capable of being manufactured
in the country. We wisn such information should
be available at an early date.

The other necessity for starting new industries
is to know the details of raw material available in the
country, along with their purities, extent and other
particulars. At present we possess very little infor-
mation in this connection. The only figures known
are those of agricultural products. We are glad that
the Government are strengthening their Geological
Department and after some time information about
n.ineral resources may be available. There is no annual
publication which gives the details of raw materials,
their extent of availability and the purpose for which
they can be used, nor we have any publication from
which we may know what new developments have
taken place in other countries about the new crops,
new industries or the utilities of the raw material.
We are passing through a race of development and
unless India is posted up-to-date, we cannot make
any big headway. It is tne function of the Govern-
ment to keep people informed as to what is happening
in the world, and what new discoveries, inventions
and uses of raw materials have been discovered. If
the Government has not done this work, we ,would
have expected the Federation Chamber of Commerce
to take up this important line. If the Chambers do
not inform their members about these things, they
are not doing the public duty for which they are meant.
If they have not done so far, we invite their attention
to take this line up immediately. To expect such a
big enquiry by any private person or a private firm
is not possible. It requires a good library, as well
as sufficient staff to collate all the material available.

We have Trade Commissioners in almost all the
important countries of the world but they are of not
much use for the country. They ought to have been
telling us .in their annual publications what types of

Zl6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

articles we can export for these countries or what
lines of industrial development these people have
taken, which we can imitate. We get very little in-
formation through them for industrial development.
England itself publishes small pamphlets, occasionally,
as to the possibilities of her trade in other countries.
Similar publications ought to have been started in
India if Trade Commissioners pay a little attention to
this important phase in the development of industries.
India can no more remain isolated nor it can develop
without the help of other countries. The knowledge
and experience available in the whole ^orld must be
pooled down to develop our industries and that can-
not be done unless Government Departments are
properly organised and systematised to meet the need
of the country.

There is a third point in this connection before
we proceed. So far we have been exporting raw mate-
rial to different countries. But there are very good
chances of exporting finished goods which can easily
be prepared in our cottages and they may be highly
valued in foreign countries. Japan studied that point
very minutely and could find out many such articles,
which would find a sale in the foreign market at very
good prices and could give a living to the cottage
worker. We have referred to this aspect in the second
chapter, but we may be excused to reiterate what
we have said before. We are very rich in our weeds
and agricultural products. The wages we give to our
labour are the lowest in the world. That being so
if we study the necessities of foreign countries and
know thck fashions and tastes, we can utilise this
labour for the manufacture of many articles, which
foreign countries are in need of. By exporting goods
a country need not exploit others, but may supply
the needs of a foreign country at a much cheaper
rate than what those countries could produce. Plaited
goods is one of the most important industries in Japan.

NEW INDUSTRIES

We have no trade in plaited goods, while Japan ex-
ports straw braids in sufficiently large quantities. We
can produce these things in cottages as a side industry
and can supply them to other countries. Their manu-
facture is simple, the raw material is in plenty and labour
is cheap. It is only a question of organising export
trade. There are a number of eatables which we can
manufacture cheaper than they are produced in other
countries, and we can provide, in this way, some work
for our people. The manufacture of guts, the tanning
of leather and the like are all well known. We refer
the readers to our book on Japan for most of the de-
tails of the articles which fall under this category.
Such industries can only develop provided travellers
are sent to foreign countries to study the taste and
requirements of other people after providing them
with sufficient knowledge about the raw materials
available in our country. If we train our young men
for this purpose and send them out to observe minutely
and study abroad, we can profitably start a number
of new industries.

The next point, to which we should draw the
attention of the Government and leaders of public
opinion, is that new industries cannot easily be started
unless a propaganda for mass education is done. If
we make our people literate we can easily keep them
informed about discoveries, inventions, improvements
in processes, machinery, tools, etc., which are likely
to be suitable and useful for their occupation. If
such knowledge is disseminated, there will be found
many intelligent people to take new lines of develop-
ment. Without literacy this cannot be achieved.
To-day human element has been entirely neglected
and we consider that the Government officials and a
few leaders of public opinion can bring about improve-
ment in all walks of life. This is entirely a wrong
notion. The first requisite for any development,
much more .for economic development, is that the

21 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

people themselves must begin to think and they should
try to improve their own condition. There are no more
powerful instruments than education and literacy to
remove fatalism amongst the^ people. Whatever type
of Government takes charge of the country, we shall
have to make our people think about their own future
and there will lie the secret of all improvements and
developments. Though it seems to be a sort of digres-
sion, but we beg to point out that nothing can be achieved
without literacy and we shall have to concentrate
upon it as soon as possible. We entirely agree
with the constructive scheme that Mahatma Gandhi
has evolved. He has rightly given sufficient stress
on education and if the Government is not going to
introduce compulsory education in the country even
after the War, there is no other method but to start
it ourselves. We must see that every child, young
and old, male and female should be made literate in
the shortest time possible.

The list of new industries can be enlarged and for
this we shall need much greater space than this small
volume permits. Simply to convince that new things
can be manufactured on a small scale we give here the
details of a few articles. Readers themselves can add
to this list a number of other articles of the same cate-
gory.

All industries may be divided into three headings :
Mechanical, Chemical and Agricultural. We shall
divide our list under these headings,

MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES

By mechanical industry we mean the manufacture
of those articles in which proper types of tools are
reauired. A chemical industry on the other hand in-
volves the use of a chemical process. As regards
agricultural industry, it will be either mechanical or
chemical or both. But we have given it a separate
heading, as we consider such industries . must be re-

NEW INDUSTRIES 219

served for the agriculturists or the artisans living in
villages.

Coming to mechanical industries, the biggest and
the most useful industry, that can be started, is the
manufacture of bicycles. We have given it a first
place for the simple reason that this industry will
illustrate most of our points which we want to bring
out during the course of this chapter. Some of the
readers may think that bicycle cannot be manufactured
on a small scale. But if we refer to the history of
bicycle manufacture in Japan we find that in 1930 estab-
lishments employing from 5 to 9 labourers were 51 '44
%, while establishments in which 10 to 14 labourers
were employed were 16-45 % an( l establishments
employing 15 to 29 labourers were 18-02%. The total
percentage of small establishments employing not
more than 90 labourers was 85*91. How these small
establishments could produce bicycles is a question
which must be carefully studied. Bicycle consists of
a number of parts and all these parts can be separately
manufactured quite easily if proper types of tools
are available. Establishments employing only a few
labourers were started to manufacture one or two
parts at one place, while the other parts were manu-
factured in a separate establishment. Ail the parts,
in this way, were divided into number of small
establishments and when they were all manufactured
in this fashion, they were brought to another establish-
ment, which worked only as an assembling place. It
is true that in all these small establishments bicycle
was nowhere manufactured but a part of it only was
made. But ail these parts together turned it into a
bicycle in the assembling shop quite alright. This
is the method as to how Japan has been working on
a small scale and still producing the cheapest article in
the world. Everybody will admit that the establish-
ment which only produces one part of a bicycle is fat
better fitted.than a very big factory which tries to pro-

Z20 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

cluce an entire bicycle at one place. These small cot-
tages are the best example or the division of labour
and this specialised skill must produce the cheapest
and best article than from the point of view of those
who consider everything in a mass production manner.
When parts are cheaply and separately built, their as-
sembling must remain cheap cannot be doubted. Thus
these industries working separately in number of places
with a small number of workers can produce a far
cheaper article than the biggest factory trying to make
the same article at one and the same place. It must
be conceded that the cost of supervision is entirely
eliminated. Locking up capital to a big extent is not
needed and as the workman himself remains the pro-
prietor of the establishment, there is no exploitation
and no cost of supervision has to be added to it. Fur-
ther a man who works for this own self must put in the
maximum amount of work in the shortest period and he
must produce things far better than he would have done
if he would have worked for another. In a place
where the worker himself is the proprietor of the estab-
lishment and earns the entire benefit that comes out
of that manufacture, the work is done cheaper and
more efficiently.

The only objection that can be pointed out against
this method of working is that the purchase of raw
material will be expensive as the proprietor, being a
small man, will be purchasing in a small quantity, and
secondly that the man who assembles these parts into
a bicycle is likely not to pay a reasonable price for the
articles produced. In order to meet both these ob-
jections Japanese Government has made co-operative
societies or associations of all these workers and their
working is supervised by the Government officials. They
try to eliminate all types of unreasonable demands either
ot the producer or of the assembler. Prices of different
raw materials are fixed and the shops dealing in those
articles cannot sell these articles at a higher rate than

NEW INDUSTRIES lit

fixed by the Government. In this way both the pro-
fit of the dealers in raw materials as well as the prices
of the -articles produced are fixed and thus there is no
danger of exploitation, nor unreasonable demand pos-
sible. There is a further safeguard provided by the
Government inasmuch as when the bicycles are ex-
ported to foreign countries, and profits are obtained,
the assembler as well as the manufacturer of parts are
assigned proportionate share of the profits, so that the
profit of exporting an article is also shared by the whole
lot of the producers and assemblers.

There does not seem to be any flaw in the above
arrangement. It is different whether our Govern-
ment or our people would like to be governed by the
same type ot laws or rules. We do not see there is
anything intrinsically wrong to agree to such a proce-
dure. If we make a co-operative society of all the
workers manufacturing different parts, as well as the
dealers and the assemblers, and decide the prices of
different articles beforehand, we can create an organi-
sation of this type in the country. In this way we may
fix up the lowest prices at which bicycles ot a certain
type should be sold. But if there comes a demand for
a higher price, the profit of it should be shared amongst
all workers and similarly if there is a fall in prices,
everybody should suffer accordingly. Such a proce-
dure in no case will bring about any restrictions or trade
nor it will be detrimental to public interest. Let a
co-operative society be started on these lines.

We are glad that in some cities a few parts of
bicycle are being manufactured by very small establish-
ments. All this can serve as a nucleus for a big orga-
nisation.

Mechanical Toys There is hardly any person who
has not seen the most attractive toys that Japan was
selling before the War. It may be correct to say that
they practically monopolised the entire trade of the
world. In 1934 Japan exported metal toys to the

222 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

extent of 80 lacs of yens and that of celluloid
jo lacs. Rubber toys of 64 lacs; glass toys and
other types of toys arc besides the above/ The
secret ot the sale of toys lies in their varieties. If
a shop tries to sell only one variety of toy, it is
likely not to make much profit out of it. But if
several types of toys are sold in a shop, children
going to that shop like one or the other and
the dealer will have a brisk sale. On this principle
the export market of Japan was built. Different
manufacturers were organised separately and their toys
were purchased and exported after reserving a reason-
able profit for the man exporting. The amount of profit,
if any, after sale goes back to the manufacturers. There
was organised an association of the toy manufacturers
for the whole of Japan, wherein the manufacturers
would discuss their difficulties and give their own sug-
gestions to overcome them. In order to cheapen
the toys, special attention was paid to the waste material
coming out of the different factories. These toys are
generally made out of the waste material from different
tin factories. In India we are in the habit of dumping
this valuable waste in manure pits where it does
not easily decompose and as such is not even a
good manure. In Japan Government officials, con-
nected with the organisation, of toy makers, collect
all this material and place it before their association,
so that everyone of them will decide for which part
of the toy that material could be utilised and to what
extent. When the raw material is obtained from the
waste and mechanical power is available at cheap rates,
the readers can at once visualise that a most complicat-
ed and beautiful toy can be produced for a song and
any price given for it will be a profit to the maker.
You require only a few suitable punches with a few
dies.

ftxttons The preparation of buttons from differ-
ent materials is simply a mechanical proqess. If pro-

NEW INDUSTRIES

per type of machine is produced or evolved, many
people will be able to manufacture different types of
buttons from different materials available in the country.
Leather, horn and metals are even now utilised for this
purpose. There are a few people making buttons
but we can employ many more in this important in-
dustry. If we organise button makers and give them
new designs and acquaint them with the lashion as
well as the requirements of the consumer, we can ex-
pand this trade on a large scale. The import of
buttons in India from foreign countries is c^uite a de-
cent one. Mysore Government has done quite a good
work in this line.

Nibs The manufacture of nibs docs not require
very much of skill, if proper type of material is avail-
able. We require sheets of different types of alloys,
which may be utilised for this purpose, if we use iron
sheet nibs some type of annealing may be necessary.
Very crude attempt has been made in Inaia in the manu-
facture of nibs. There are no good types so far evolved
in this line.

Stationery Articles Under this heading we can in-
clude number of articles which can easily be made with
a very small equipment. The manufacture of envelopes
may be mentioned as an instance. It requires only a
small machine with different types of dies. After all we
do not see why the making of envelopes should not pay
provided we make study of the tvpe of paper required
for this purpose and the manufacturer gets paper at
a cheap rate. In certain cases waste paper, blank on
one side, can easily be utilised. The import of envelopes
is a sufficiently big one. Different types of letter papers,
etc., are articles which can easily be manufactured and
can give employment to many or our people.

Blotting paper, pads, calendars, diaries, etc., are
many articles which can easily be manufactured. Clips
for stitching and holding is another useful line.

Pencils Are another important line. Nurembetg

224 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

and Bavaria are the main centres in Germany for the
manufacture of pencils. The machinery required for
this purpose is very small. The manufacture of lead must
remain a special art. If people are trained in it, there
should be no difficulty in their manufacture in India,
We are sorry to say that the attempts made so far are
very crude, and the manufacturers have not cared to
learn this art in more details as they ought to have done.
India must produce its own pencils in all their shades.

fountain Pens The manufacture of good fountain
pens is a very easy method. We have seen in Japan
people producing fountain pens in very small cottages
and they could afford to sell their pens at as low a price
as As. -/4/- each. A friend purchased two gross at that
rate. Nobody will believe that the manufacturer would
be making a gain from such cheap pens. Hollow
round pipes of plastics and celluloid in different beauti-
ful mixtures of colours are available or can be import-
ed till the time we manufacture them ourselves. The
only work that an artisan has to do is to cut the same
in different sizes and prepare them to shape and then
assemble it into a fountain pen. Nibs are available
in the market and they can be purchased or manufactured.

We saw quite a good attempt in Cawnpore and the
golden nibs' were their speciality. We were struck
by the design of small inexpensive machines made by
the proprietor himself for the purpose.

Rubber Goods Manufacture of rubber is an easy
process from raw rubber to sheets or to different forms.
Vulcanizing does not require very much money. Since
the time Dunlop tyres are manufactured in India many
people in Calcutta and other places have started the
manufacture of rubber goods and they find no difficulty
in manufacturing them. We shall take the subject under
'Chemical Industries* but here we should like to point
out that rubber sheets can be purchased and turned
into different types of articles. They can be turned
into different thickness of threads. Similarly the ebo-

NEW INDUSTRIES 22 J

nite rods or rubber rods can be utilised for the manu-
facture of different articles.

Manufacture of Harmonium y Gramophones and I 1 lute 3
Quite good harmoniums are made in India at different
places. But still we are importing a large number of
them. If we specialise in the details there is no reason
why good harmoniums cannot be produced in the
country.

Easier is the course of the manufacture of gramo-
phones. With the use of a few punches, gramophones
can be produced and in certain cases at half the price
at which they are sold to-day.

Flutes and other musical instruments can be manu-
factured in the same way. People have done very
good trade in musical instruments during the War
days, and we are sure this industry will be stabilised
for all times to come.

Electro Plaiting This is an art which requires both
mechanical and chemical knowledge. Though there
are intelligent, illiterate people doing this trade quite
successfully yet if we really want to develop this industry,
it is but necessary that the chemists should take to it,
and we are sure most of them will be getting more
money than they are otherwise likely to earn in service.
Since the time chrome plaiting has been introduced,
even iron articles, cutlery, knives etc., can be electro-
plated and sold. They are liked even better than silver
articles. The manufacture of spoons, forks, etc., can
easily be done from iron sheets by small punches.
If people take to the manufacture of these articles and
they are electro-plaited at one central place, many people
can get their living and we can stop the imports in these
articles altogether. If chemists take to this art, all
types of salts and chemicals needed can easily be manu-
factured in the country. Equipment is very simple and
this too can be manufactured locally. However, there
is no harm jf in the beginning we import the best sets
if

2Z6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

from foreign countries and then try to improve upon
them.

Small Machines There is a big scope for the sale
of small machines. Some firms in Bombay and Cal-
cutta have taken their manufacture, but they have not
concentrated upon the accuracy or the material used
in these machines. Unless we concentrate upon these
two important factors, we shall not produce a favourable
impression amongst our own countrymen. Punches,
machinery for wire drawing, confectionery, envelopes,
etc., can easily be manufactured, and do not require
very heavy equipment. Our ordinary mistris are
quite capable of manufacturing these machines and
tools provided there is some encouragement and or-
ganisation behind them. If we just try to stop the
imports of hardwares and small machines thousands
of small foundries can be started with profit in the
country.

Files The manufacture of files appears to be a
special art but we have seen their manufacture in Japan
in very small cottages. Japan could afford to sell
their files at even less than half the price at which the
other makes were sold in India. The entire machinery
equipment was sold for Rs. 1,400 before the War and
Japanese were willing to teach the art if anybody
purchased their equipment. It is not a big, amount, and
there is no reason why people should not take up this
industry. Some machines have already been imported
into India and the work has been started. In order
to manufacture a good or bad type of files, we require
a good or bad steel for the purpose.

Fittings for Houses This is a very big line and it
requires only a few machines to do all these things.
A few establishments have been started to do this work
but the right type of machinery has not been installed.
Further attempts for its reorganisation must be made.

EJeftric Goods Many articles are being consumed
in the country in electric trade. Most of these articles

NEW INDUSTRIES 227

can easily be made with the help of cheap tools and
machinery. Though some work is being done but
stilf the line is very big and many articles are not even
tried. We wish that a systematic investigation be made
and all such articles be manufactured in the country.

Shoes and Other leather Goods In China we saw
small outfit for making shoes and other leather goods.
There is no reason as to why such a small outfit cannot
be imported in the country and utilised.

Sheet Metal Work Thousands of articles are made
from sheet metal with the help of small punches. If
we examine the articles we consume every day, we
shall be startled as to why such small things should
not be manufactured in the country. Cans, buckets,
utensils, etc., can be cheaply manufactured and they can
find a ready sale. Aluminium wares are well known
in this line and in Poona and other places brass sheets
are also being turned in different articles.

Wire Articles Pins, nails, screws, etc,, are all made
from iron wires. You simply require a small machine
to do the job. These arc not expensive machines.
We have seen attempts being made during the War
even to make these machines. Though good auto-
made machines are not made yet the attempts were
quite successful and ingenious.

Tapes, Cotton >raids> Strings Ropes, etc., are other
lines in which we have mostly depended upon foreign
countries. During the War some people did try
these lines and they could make some money for their
troubles but it is desirable that gains of War must be
retained and proper arrangement for suitable machinery
be made.

Watches and Clocks In Switzerland watches are
well-known cottage industry. There is no reason as to
why both watches and clocks cannot be profitably made
in the country. We require small gear-cutting machines
for the purpdse and good mechanics to assemble the
parts into a watch or a clock.

COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

Metal Sprays Many articles can be usefully made
by spraying other articles on them. Instead of silver-
ing or tinning brass and copper we can make cheap
articles from iron and give tin or silver spray over them.
Chemical Industry is suffering a great deal for want
of utensils which may not be acted upon by acids or
alkalies. Here is a good solution for our problem.
Many cottage workers with a very little equipment can
take to this work with a little training.

Wire Knitting We are glad that both in iron and
brass wire knitting has started in many places. But
this industry is not likely to survive unless proper type
of equipment is imported and [modified according to
our requirements. We hope and trust that this industry
will establish itself in peace time. There is a big scope
for wire netting and gauges of centrifugals and labora-
tories.

Wire Drawing Copper, brass, silver and gold wires
are now being manufactured in the country by manual
labour or by small machines run by small motors.
Silver and gold thread is an old important industry.
It is necessary that up-to-date methods be employed
and suitable alloys be manufactured for number of other
types of wires required by trade.

Rolled Iron Tata Iron Works first started this
industry on a big scale. It was taken up on a small
scale in Cawnpore and since then the industry has
spread throughout the country. It does not require
big outfit. Scrap iron is the raw material which is
easily available. Squares, flats and rounds are all rolled
in different places. The work requires a bit of orga-
nisation and patronage to establish the industry.

Lanterns The manufacture of lanterns, as any-
body will see in places where these are being manu-
factured, is nothing else but the use of punches and the
assembling of parts.

There are thousands of other articles, which can
i>e manufactured with ptoper types of toels without

NEW INDUSTRIES 219

any special skill required in their details.

We can add to this list any number of other articles
and -still the list will not be complete. We have given
only a small list above simply to convince the readers
the very big line available to us, if proper organisation
and suitable investigation be made.

The best thing for us to do will be to send a few
good engineers and industrialists to China and Japan
and to purchase suitable machines to start these industries
at once. We made this suggestion to Government of
India and we are sure now there will be no difficulty
to send our delegation there. Copying is always cheaper
in the long run than evolving the machine ourselves.
We wish that full advantage of the world conditions
and the helplessness of Japan be utilised and full use of
the availability of these machines be employed. Perhaps
it will be worth while to have our young and bright
demobilised soldiers trained in Japan for different
mechanical industries as it neither requires much skill
nor much time to master the details.

CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

Before the War everybody felt that the chemicals
are difficult to be manufactured. This idea was due
mostly to the fact that though chemical education of
the highest order was imparted in our Universities,
yet the chemists kept themselves aloof from the manu-
facturing side. Fortunately, during the War the Govern-
ment found itself to be in difficulty in the supply of
chemicals and they were forced to utilise the eminent
chemists of the country to be placed in charge of the
Supply Directorates. They were asked to study the
possibilities of the manufacture of different chemicals
in India and they creditably did their job and produced
sufficiently a long list which could be manufactured
in India with the indigenous raw material. Many of
the chemists made full use of this opportunity and made
attempts to manufacture many articles which were im~

2}0 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

ported before. The margin of price between the raw
material and the manufactured goods was sufficiently
high and it was the main impetus to start these new
lines. Many small factories were started and many
chemicals began to be manufactured. The chemists
made money and also supplied the needs of the Govern-
ment.

Institutions like Institute of Science, Bangalore
and Universities also asked their chemists to do some
useful work in this connection. The Government also
approached factories, as well as Universities, to place
chemists on the manufacturing side. Suggestions
were made sometimes, and whole details of the pro-
cesses were given, and things were started. It is true
that the start was a haphazard one. It is also true that
the margin of profit between the sale price and their
manufacture was enormously high. These conditions
will no more continue and many of these attempts will
not survive yet many new ventures arc already estab-
lished and must continue.

We know from our own experience that many
things can easily be made, provided our chemists wait
patiently for their opportunity and persistently tackle
their difficulties. We are sure that their labour will not
go in vain. There is a big chance for manufacturing
chemicals, and we hope the margin of profit will always
remain sufficiently remunerative.

We are glad that the Association of the Manu-
facturers of Chemicals has been formed and mutual
discussions have begun. But this does not seem to
be sufficient. Before anybody can succeed, the question
of the utilisation of by-products will have to be solved.
Besides cut-throat competition amongst the manufac-
turers will have to be avoided. If the chemists can
frankly talk amongst themselves and concentrate upon
the utilisation of by-products we are sure, we can hold
our own. We believe a systematic method of dividing
the country into different zones for the of manufacture

NEW INDUSTRIES 13 I

different articles is absolutely necessary so that the
unhealthy competition may be avoided as far as possible.
If a Syndicate for the sale of chemicals, consisting of
all the manufacturers together be made, the competi-
tion may be easily avoided. If the Government comes
to our help there should be no difficulty. We can make
other chemists statutory' members of a co-operative
association of all the manufacturing concerns, and their
manufactured goods may be pooled together for sale
through a central syndicate. If such syndicate is
evolved, it can easily raise the prices in certain localities,
which can bring down the prices in others so as to
compete successfully with the imported goods. Such
a syndicate can also move the Government machinery
for imposition of import duty.

Most of the chemicals can easily be manufactured
in small establishments and with small capital. We have
not only seen this done in Japan, but we have seen it
done with our own eyes during the War. Dr. Krishna
Gopal, D.Sc., F.I.C. has started the writing of an im-
portant book on 'Chemicals' which can be manufactured
on a cottage scale with small capital and small equip-
ment. We wish him every success and we hope his
labours will be available to the public within a short
period.

Before we suggest names of some of the chemicals,
that can easily be made, let us point out one very impor-
tant thing. During the course of manufacture we have
felt that there are two drawbacks in the manufacture
of different chemicals. First is the cost of coal or
fuel for processing where heat is essential. Our fur-
naces are generally not well designed and the transport
charges of coal are very high. Building of a furnace
is highly technical and is based on experience. Engi-
neers, who have made a specialised study of this branch,
should come to the help of the chemists. Also, some
of the chemists should go out and study the technique
of furnace construction in detail, so that most economic

2$ I COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

use of fuel may be made. In certain cases, introduction
of rotary furnaces may be of some use. Electric
furnaces may remove this difficulty where energy is
provided cheap for this purpose.

Unfortunately, in India coal is on one side of the
country. Unless freight charges on railways for coal
are reduced considerably, cost of fuel is bound to re-
main high. It may be worth while that Railways may
start coal depots at different stations in the country
and give special rates up to those places. This will
give them more freight and the coal will be distributed
at considerably cheap rates throughout the country.
The next solution of this difficulty may be found in the
utilisation of cheap energy for heat. This, again,
will require the manufacture of electric furnaces. In
any case electric furnaces will be required in abundance,
and it is but necessary that some people should take
to it now. The possibilities of replacing energy for
fuel must be studied in detail and it must be found out
as to the rate of energy at which it is likely to compete
against coal at the best possible centre. The transport
of coal may be expensive while transport of energy
will be comparatively cheap, though initial cost may
be high.

The second point necessary for investigation in
the development of chemical industries is the question
of right type of raw material to be used for the manu-
facture of furnaces as well as utensils and tanks for
processing.

We require special investigations into this question.
Importing ready-made articles from abroad may not
be desirable, as, in that case, the investment made in
these articles might not over capitalise the cottage
industry.

Below we give a few chemicals which can be manu-
factured on a small scale.

Turpmtim and Rosin Before the War Turpentine
used to be imported and all of our requirements were

NEW INDUSTRIES 133

not supplied from our factories. There are huge
plantations yet untapped in our forests. Some of these
places are inaccessible. If tappers are trained in dis-
tillation and if small but cheap equipments are pro-
vided to them, we can import our turpentine and rosin
from the forests instead of gum. This will give some
more money to the tappers and supply will thus be
considerably increased.

Turpentine is a source of artificial camphor in other
countries and if it is so utilised consumption of tur-
pentine may increase. Russian method of distillation
from twigs may also be tried with advantage. Distilla-
tion does not require much skill and its details can
easily be mastered.

Hydrochloric and Nitric Acids Are already manu-
factured in the country on a very small scale, and we
do not see any reason as to why the small manu-
facturers should be afraid of the big manufacturers,
provided sulphuric acid is made available at reasonable
rate. There are good many factories manufacturing
sulphuric acid, but all of them do not manufacture
hydrochloric and nitric acids and it will not be in their
interest to raise the price of sulphuric acid. We think
sulphuric acid is a chemical which will be required in
the manufacture of thousands of other chemicals.
Its price should not be allowed to go beyond a certain
maximum, and must be controlled. We hope there
will soon be a few factories manufacturing concentrated
sulphuric acid and most of these establishments will
not be interested in the manufacture of hydrochloric
and nitric acids. This small-scale industry must be
encouraged.

Sodium Silicate It is manufactured at number of
places and it is just as good as the imported articles.
We have seen very ingenious methods of its manu-
facture. If the industry is encouraged we shall soon
be able to meet our entire demand in India.

Sulphite. &rA Sodium Sulphide Sodium sulphate is a

234 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

by-product of hydrochloric acid and it is as well a
by-product of salt manufacture. There are huge
deposits of sodium sulphate at Jodhpur. It is also
prepared in number of places simply by leaching.
Thus there is no dearth for the raw material. From
sodium sulphate to sodium sulphide or sulphite only
is a small step.

Manganese and barium Salts India is very rich in
the ores of manganese and barytes. Most of the salts
in both these metals are not difficult to be made on a
small scale. If Indian chemists master the technique
and utilise the fuel economy we can become a first-rate
country in supplying these salts. Instead of exporting
the ores for a song we shall then be able to sell finished
products and there will be a chance of developing
number of industries in which these salts are utilised.

Coal Tar Products Before the War there was no
demand for chemicals which are the by-products of
coal tar distillation. During the War the importance
of these chemicals and other intermediaries has been
brought home in India. There is likely to arise a set
of industries utilising tar products. We envisage a
time when India like Germany will be importing coal
tar for preparing these chemicals and there will soon be
established an industry on sound basis in these products.
Most of these chemicals, which depend more on tech-
nique rather than on organisation and equipment, will
easily be prepared in cottages.

In the above details we have given only an indi-
cation of the types of chemical industries which can
be started on a cottage scale. We do not want to enter
into more details simply because the details will look
boring to the ordinary reader not interested in chemicals.
However, we can mention quite a long list in this con-
nection. In Japan dyes are manufactured in small
houses, who purchase the intermediaries from big
concerns. However, we mention only a few chemical
industries, which are of general domestic use.

NEW INDUSTRIES 2J5

Cosmetics It is quite a big line consisting of hair
oils, soaps-washing toilet ordinary and medicated
snows,' lipsticks v etc. Most of these articles are made
even now in cottages, but the efficiency, required in
the manufacture of these commodities, is not of a high
order, as the work is done by very ordinary people.

Pigments Both lake, as well as, direct is a cottage
industry in Japan. We see no reason as to why manu-
facture of pigments should require a big establish-
ment. A good chemist with a sufficient chemical
material in hand and with a few tanks some arrange-
ment to provide steam can easily cover the entire
line of pigments in all their shades.

P<7/;;/ and Varnhhts Is similarly not difficult to
manufacture. Proper type of mixing and grinding
can be done on a small scale. It will always be the
technique which will govern the secret rather than
anything else.

Synthetic Drugs and Chemicals This is a very big
line and covers thousands of articles under it. If
India becomes industrialised most of the intermediaries
will be available at competitive prices and then for a
good chemist it should no more be difficult to manu-
facture synthetic drugs and other synthetic chemicals.
A good deal of technique is required for the success
of these articles, but as far as the equipment and
machinery is concerned, we need not invest very large
amount nor will have to employ large number of
workmen.

Fermentation Industries Vinegar, yeast, marmite
are some of the products of bio-chemistry. A good
deal of technique of bio-chemistry as well as a method
of control may be required in their successful working,
but as far as the number of people employed and the
machinery needed is concerned, one may be assured
that they will never be much.

Celluloid, Cellophane and Artificial Silk In India we
consider that*a very large amount of money is needed

2j6 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

for the manufacture of these articles. In 1935 in Japan
the total production of Rayon was worth 14,92,01,000
yen out of which 2,25,23,000 yen of g<?ods were pro-
duced in small establishments employing not more
than 9 labourers. From the perusal or the annual
reports we find that the number of small establishments
in this line were daily increasing. If Rayon can be
manufactured in Japan in small establishments, employ-
ing not more than 9 persons, why should there be any
difficulty in doing the same in India.

Celluloid and cellophane are far easier to be made
than Rayon. Of course, simple moulding of celluloid
articles is a child's play.

linamelled Wares Out of the total number of estab-
lishments 22% consisted of those which employed
less than 9 labourers. The industry requires more
skill and knowledge of technique and a suitable fur-
nace for annealing.

Plastics Both the manufacture of plastic material
as well as plastic goods require less of labour but more
of technical skill and knowledge, and these things can
easily be done in small establishments.

Without going into more details the readers must
be convinced that barring heavy chemicals or big in-
dustries like fertilisers and all others which we mentioned
above, practically all the articles can be manufactured
on a small scale. Matches which were practically mono-
polised by the Swedish combine before the War are
all manufactured in small establishments in Japan.
It must be admitted that Japan could flood the foreign
markets with their cheap matches.

Rubber Goods Manufacture of rubber goods is
both a mechanical and a chemical process. We have
seen very small establishments consisting of very
ordinary machines wherein latex is mixed with different
chemicals and turned into sheets and then these sheets
are manufactured in number of useful articles. These
machines are quite handy and effective jn working.

NEW INDUSTRIES 237

Thousands of rubber articles are manufactured with the
help of these machines. We see no reason as to why
such Articles ojuinot be manufactured in our country.
Rubber impregnated cloth (water proofing) is another
line of these goods. Rubber belting is another.

During the War artificial rubber has found a good
hold in the chemical world. India is full of raw mate-
rial for artificial rubber and some of the processes do
not require large investments.

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

After giving small description of chemical and
mechanical Industries we only describe a few agri-
cultural industries.

India needs small machinery like ploughs, chaff
cutters, harrows, cultivators, centrifugals, hand pumps
and the like in millions and all these can profitably be
manufactured in small establishments, provided the
right type of machinery is installed and the man knows
his job.

Quite small establishments are working for the
manufacture of chaff cutters in Punjab. Other articles
have not yet been taken up as there has been no en-
couragement, but we have no doubt that these small
establishments will be able to hold their own against
big establishments. It is the minute study of the re-
quirements of the agriculturists rather than the big
investment necessary to manufacture these articles.
If a proper study of the requirements is made and good
type is evolved the manufacture of the same will not
be difficult.

Dairy Products It is a pity that every profitable
line in agriculture is being monopolised by the capi-
talists and industries quite suitable to the farmers are
being usurped one by one. Agriculture is the least
paying industry in the world but when we deprive the
fanner of all connected industries, we make him poorer
still. Dairyjng is an allied industry to agriculture but

23 8 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

the farmer is only made either to sell his milk to the
middle man or to manufacture Ghi. * Dairy is one of
of the industries whose profits begin .to dwindle the
more you take to processing. Milk fetches the highest
price, while cream fetches less, butter still less and
ghi gives the least. But in all remote villages poor
man is forced to prepare ghi and sell it against cheap
adulterated hydrogenated oil. Adulteration is rampant
in the entire business and honest man has no
place. Government will do nothing to stop dishoncs
dealings and without it no improvement in business
can he made.

If we prepare condensed milk or milk products
we can get far better prices than turning milk into
ghi. Condensing of milk is not a difficult process, i
We saw quite a small outfit consisting of a small vacuum
pan only to prepare condensed milk. It was being
run only with the help of a few men. Such establish-
ments, if started, must add some money to the income
of the agriculturists. Milk foods specially for children
and invalids will be only a small step from condensed
milk. We can stop all imports in that line. We are
aware that Dr. Wright has recommended that we should
not manufacture these products but we beg to differ
from him for the simple reason that anything which
gives us more money must be adopted in place of highly
wasteful method of ghi manufacture.

Cheese making is another line. Soft cheese is
already known in the country and it is the base for all
Bengali sweets. Soft cheese cannot be kept for long.
In other countries good cheese is made by the farmer
specially in Italy and Holland. The method is auiti
simple. Even if we take objection to the use of animal
proauct for curdling milk there are number of vegetable
products which can be quite usefully employed in its
manufacture. There is need both for investigation
and organisation, but once this line is started useful
material for human food will be saved.

NEW INDUSTRIES 239

Casein was manufactured in number of places
and sent to Germany before the War. Its use in ply-
wood as glue^and as coating for art paper are very well
known. The manufacture is not a complicated one.
In remote places wherefrom milk cannot be easily
transported its manufacture may serve quite a useful
line.

Butter and cream are manufactured in Aligarh
and many other places in quite small establishments*
But all these shops are owned by the non-agriculturists.
The farmer is simply exploited by the middleman.
We wish that this work may be clone in the homes of
the producer himself so that he may get a few coppers
more from this business.

l : ood Products Are quite a big line. As we have
stated in Part II during the War the Government
encouraged the manufacture of number of food articles,
a brief description of which we have already given.
The list mentioned there is not at all exhaustive. A
simple survey of food products that come to the market
from foreign countries will convince the readers of the
huge possibilities of this line.

Dried sweet potatoes are common feature in For-
mosa, where sweet potatoes arc cut into small pieces
by a treadle machine and they are simply dried in the
sun. This least expensive method can be easily intro-
duced in place of highly expensive dehydrating facto-
ries. Similarly, potatoes can be cut and dried and we
are sure they keep better than those prepared in dehy-
drating factories. Of course the little profit in that
case will go to the producer and not to the capitalist.
Carrots can similarly be dried and be made into Hour, if
necessary.

Dried vegetables were very well known in the
country and quite a large number of vegetables were
preserved in that respect. If proper organisation
be made, we can give a side industry to the
agriculturist.

240 COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

Sauce, Pickles and Achars This industry is quite
common in every home in India. But the farmer
never cared to make money out of this industry. Articles
prepared are both tasty and cheap. In this commercial
age perhaps there is need to organise the growers
into manufacturing these articles. The experience is
already there, it is only the training in proper packing
and the arrangement for sale which is required.

Thousands of maunds of mango in its different
stages go to waste every year and are sold for a song.
If a proper arrangement for its utilisation be made we
shall be adding to out food resources on the one hand
and to the income of the cultivator on the other.

Wild fruit and herbs There are number of wild fruits
and herbs which arc utilised for the purpose. There
may be huge potentialities in their development. The
only thing required is to give people a proper training
and make them money- minded. Of course, proper
packing material will have to be provided.

Vinegar This is a very old industry of the country.
But since no exploitation of this source was ever thought
of, small lots were prepared and locally utilised. Good
flavour vinegar was manufactured in the crude manner
possible but now synthetic vinegar is the order of the
day. People purchase acetic and mix it with water
and add artificial flavours. Sometimes fruits or their
juices are mixed and kept in the sun for a few days to
acquire flavour. If this practice is stopped, a brisk
trade can be done by the farmer in this line. Vinegar
can be prepared from cane juice and many other juices
besides jaggery. Though with a little training village
method of manufacture can be easily improved yet
there will be no difficulty in giving training in the
scientific method of vinegar manufacture.

Starch Making Is really a cottage industry. In
Cheeba prefecture of Japan starch from sweet potato
is manufactured in many a small establishments. This
industry can easily be established where sweet pota-

NEW INDUSTRIES 241

toes grow well, specially in Assam and Central Provinces.
In America more starch-producing varieties have been
evolved and we can successfully introduce these strains.

Tapioc^can be grown in number of places and
this can serve as a starch-producing plant. It gives
the finest and purest starch.

With a small equipment consisting of stone grinders
(ordinary chakki) and a few sieves one can take to the
preparation of starch specially when grains like jowar
and maize arc employed for the extraction of starch.
Main beauty of making starch in villages is that no by-
product of it will be wasted and all the waste material
can be utilised as cattle or human feed.

Fibre Industries Though for ordinary cordage
fibre is produced in every village but no attempt has
been made in stabilising this industry. Method of
retting and extraction must be improved. There are
simple machines both for extracting fibre as well as
for turning the fibre into ropes and strings. Such
equipments can be introduced with advantage.

Citric and Tartaric Acid Manufacture of both these
acids is an agricultural industry in other countries but
we import quite a lot of these acids. There is no
reason why these acids be not manufactured in the
country.

Salt y Sodium Carbonate, Sodium SulphatCy Potassium
Nitrate, Sajji Matti Are some of the articles which are
being manufactured from time immemorial. But
these industries have got a set-back due to the ignorance
of the manufacturers in up-to-date methods as well
as due to the nasty excise laws. The matter requires
a proper looking into to establish these industries on
their old basis.

We can add to the above list a large number of
industries but do not propose to do so inasmuch as
that once a proper incentive is given many new industries
will suggest themselves. The only thing required is
the interest to be taken in cottage industries by the

24* COTTAGE AND SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES

leaders of public opinion and the Government, We
would refer the readers to go through our Hindi
book on the economic development of Japan, wherein
they will get into the details of organisat ; bn and func-
tioning of these industries in that country.