(d)
Currency and Coinage
The area of present Faridkot Tahsil of the district was part of the erstwhile Faridkot Princely State. During Princely era the State had no coinage of its own. On ceremonial occasions, especially among Banias and Bhabras, coins of Malerkotla were some times given to lagis or scattered among the populace. Mansuri Pice which circulated in the State was replaced by British small copper coins. Usual miscellaneous coins were found in the bazaar. Dollars were sometimes used as ornaments. British Indian coins were in circulation in the other parts of the present circulation in the other parts of the present district. These coins were in silver, copper and nickel. The old rupee was divided into half a rupee (dheli or athani), one-fourth of a rupee (pauli or choani), one eighth of a rupee (doani), one sixteenth of a rupee (anna), one-thirty second of rupee (takka), and one-sixty fourth of a rupee (paisa). An anna was equal to 4 pice or 12 pies, there being 3 pies in a pice. After the Independence new emblem of Government of India was printed on al coins and currencies in place of George VI.
Decimal system of currency and coinage has been adopted by almost al countries in the world. In 1957, the decimal coinage system was introduced in India, alongwith the old coins. Now a rupee consists of 100 paise, with coins in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise. Beside, coins of Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 are also in vogue. Currency notes were also issued in the denominations of 1,000 rupees, but these have been demonetized with effect from 16 January 1978. Gradually the old coins were withdrawn from the circulation. Simultaneously with other districts of the Punjab, the decimal coinage completely replaced the old coinage in the Faridkot District from 1 April 1964. In the beginning the prefix of naya was added to the new coins and the paise in new currency was called ‘naya paisa’ with effect from 7 June 1964 the prefix ‘naya’ was also dropped.
The decimal coinage system has brought about a great transformation in the whole accounting procedure. Undoubtedly, it has made the accountancy and book-keeping much easier, quicker and simpler.
For the development of trade and commerce of any area, an infrastructue like goods transport. Communications and marketing facilities are very essential. Taking into account, the availability of transport and communications facilities, the district has a well-developed net work of these, as in other parts of the State.
On account of comparatively good means of communications the district has an advantageous position in the trade and commerce. The district is surplus in agricultural commodities and has markets at Faridkot, Bagha Purana, Muktsar, Moga, Giddarbaha, Nihalsingwala, Malaut, Kot Kapura, Jaito, Bariwala, Badhni Kalan and Ajitwal, where the surplus commodities are brought for sale. Moga is one of the most important grain market in the country.
The district is the main exporter of good quality snuff, cotton, tread yarn, agricultural implements, cycle and cycle parts, milk products, nuts, bolts,oil engines, wheat and gram, etc. the main agro based industries in the district such as Nestle India Limited, Moga; Suraj Textiles Mills (NTC-Unit) Malaut; Malaut; Co-operative Spinning Mills Limited, Malout; the Kot Kapura Co-operative Spinning Mills, Sandhwan (Kot Kapura); Markfed Cotton Seed Processing Plant Giddarbaha; Saraswati Extractions Pvt. Ltd., Kot Kapura; Morinda Solvents Pvt. Ltd., Ajitwal; Faridkot Co-operative Sugar Mills, Faridkot ; Satia Paper Mills Ltd., Muktsar helped in the utilization of various agricultural commodities within the district. The main imports of the district are sugar, vanaspati ghee, iron goods, rice, cloth and edible oil, etc.
(a)
Course of Trade
As in the rest of the State, agricultural produce is sold by the farmers in regulated markets. Commission agents (arhtias), wholesaler and retailers act as meddle men between the growers and the consumers as there is no direct link between them.
The purchasers of agricultural produce gather at the shop of the Kachcha arhtia and the sale of the commodities starts in open auction under the supervision of the auctioneer appointed by the market committee, such sales are conducted daily during the hours fixed for this purpose. Kachcha arhitias who sell the commodities on behalf of the cultivators, receive commission on fixed rates permissible under the bye-laws of the market committee and are responsible for the payments to the sellers. The commission is paid to the arhtias by the purchasers. The rate of commission during 1993-94 was 2 per cent. The delivery of the goods is made at the shop of the kachcha arhitia.
There are many small and medium commercial centers spread all over the district. With the passage of time, some small towns have emerged as important trade centers.
(i)
Regulated and Unregulated Markets
For the development of agriculture, among other things, proper marketing facilities for the agricultural produce, better transportation and communication system are essential. Prior to the Independence there was no regulated market in the district. The facilities like standard weights and measures, warehousing, standardization and grading, etc. were not available. In the absence of these facilities the producers could not get the fair price of their produce. In order to help the agriculturists to overcome these difficulties, the government of India appointed the Royal Commission on Agriculture in 1928 to go into the problems of the agriculturists. The Commission stressed the need for establishment of regulated markets.
The object of the regulated markets is to protect the cultivators from various malpractices of traders and to regularize the sale of agricultural produce. The State Agricultural Marketing Board has been set up by the Punjab Government to regulate the activities of marketing the agricultural produce. The activities of agricultural market are regulated by the Board under the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1961, which provides for regulation of markets and formation of market committees. Market practices relating to the bidding, weighing and delivery of goods are regulated and payment of the actual value to the cultivators is assured. The system of marketing is identical in all the regulated markets.
In Faridkot district the agricultural produce is sold in local markets through commission agents. Each village of the district have been attached with the one or the other regulated market and the provisions of the Act are applicable to the whole of the area where transaction, delivery and weighment are done. Each market committee has a principal market yard. In addition, there are a number of sub-market yards in towns and in big villages. As on 31 March 1993, there were 12 regulated markets in the district at Faridkot, Bagha Purana, Muktsar, Moga, Giddarbaha, Nihalsinghwala, Malaut, Kot Kapura, Jaito, Bariwala, Badhni Kalan and Ajitwal. Besides, there were 63 sub-yards attached to regulated markets in the district. The average number of villages and area served per regulated market were 47 and 478 sq. km., respectively. In which transactions usually take place are wheat, paddy, oil-seeds, cotton, etc.
(iii)
Fairs (Melas) and other Rural Marketing Centres
Fairs (Melas)—Fairs and melas play an important role in business transactions. Fairs have long been part of the district’s religious life and agricultural economy and have also assumed commercial importance. People of district are quite enthusiastic about celebration of fairs and festivals and participate in them in large number. These are held at various places in the district. Besides normal activities at a fair, many kinds of trading activities also take place. The important fairs held in the district are Baba Farid Asgman Purb at Mela at Gangsar at Jaito. Details of these fairs have been given in chapter-III ‘people’.
Cattle Fairs – Like agricultural commodities, the marketing of livestock has also been regulated in the State. District authorities arrange cattle markets at regular intervals. These markets are arranged on different dates every month at different places in the district. Apart from providing marketing facilities to the farmers and encouragement to the breeders these fairs bring handsome income to the authorities concerned in the form of market fee. The market fee is charged from purchaser at the rate of 4 per cent and 2 per cent from yellow card holder of the sale price. In Faridkot District the fairs at Jaito, Giddarbaha, Moga Muktsar and Faridkot are held monthly while the fair at Charik is held twice in a year i.e. in the months of March and September. A cattle fair along with the ‘Maghi’ fair at Muktsar and another at Jaito is held annually.
(c) Co-operation in Trade
(i)
Co-operative Marketing
To eliminate the exploitation of the agriculturists, co-operative marketing societies have been established in the State. The first co-operative marketing society at Faridkot came into existence on 21 January 1954. These societies act as a check against malpractices such as under weighing, unauthorized deductions and delayed payments by the arhtias. Besides functioning as commission agents in the markets for marketing the produce of the area, these societies also purchase wheat and other commodities for the Government whenever required. At present almost all the regulated markets and sub-yards are served by a co-operative marketing society. With a view to aiding supply and to build godowns and storages. The cultivators can store their produce in these godowns of the marketing societies instead of disposing it off immediately after harvesting. At the district level the District Wholesale Marketing Society has been organized for co-ordinating the activities of the primary marketing societies.
At apex level, the Punjab State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation (Markfed) federates these institutions. The District Wholesale Co-operative and Marketing Supply Society at Faridkot was registered on 15 May 1973. The society undertakes wholesale business of Government supplies of agricultural implements, seeds, insecticides and some other essential goods like kerosene oil, sugar, etc. the society opened the following co-operative marketing societies in the district: -
|
Name of the society |
Date of registration |
Working/Defunct |
|
Faridkot |
21-01-54 |
Working |
|
Kot Kapura |
28-10-55 |
-do- |
|
Jaito |
18-01-57 |
-do- |
|
Muktsar |
18-08-57 |
-do- |
|
Malaut |
10-01-58 |
-do- |
|
Lambi |
01-03-69 |
-do- |
|
Giddarbaha |
02-11-63 |
-do- |
|
Bariwala |
13-12-77 |
-do- |
|
Moga |
16-06-56 |
-do- |
|
Nihansinghwala |
05-10-59 |
-do- |
|
Bagha Purana |
04-10-60 |
-do- |
(Source: Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Faridkot)
Besides co-operative marketing societies as on 31 March 1993, there were 11 Sugarcane Supply Co-operative Societies 293 Milk Supply Societies, 45 Weaver’s Societies and 172 Housing Societies.
These societies serve the interests of the farming and other sections of the community in the district in an effective manner. These also provide adequate storage facilities for agricultural inputs, food-grains essential consumer articles.
The work done by the co-operative marketing societies in the Faridkot District during the years 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 is given in Appendix IV at page 244.
(ii)
Co-operative Consumer’s Stores
The Central Co-operative Consumer Store Ltd., Faridkot, was registered on 8 March 1973 at Faridkot. Its membership as on 31 March 1993 was 358 with a paid-up share capital of Rs 275.82 lakhs (29.56 lakhs by individuals, Rs 6.26 lakhs by societies and 241.00 lakhs by Government).
(d) State Trading
The aim of the State Trading Scheme is to provide essential commodities to the consumers at reasonable rates. The Food and Supplies Department is engaged in the procurement of food grains in order to give support price to the farmers and distribution of essential commodities in the State. The department has opened purchase centers in small towns and big villages for the facility of the farmers to sell their produce. It also ensures that there is no glut in the mandis and the produce is lifted the same day. On 31 March 1993, there were 162 fair price shops functioning in the urban areas and 626 fair price shops functioning in rural areas of the district. The total quantity of foodgrains purchased by the Food and Supplies Department under the State Trading Scheme in the Faridkot District during 1986-87 to 1992-93 is given as under:
|
Year |
Quantity purchased (metric ton) |
|
1986-87 |
2,00,971 |
|
1987-88 |
1,27,132 |
|
1988-89 |
88,593 |
|
1989-90 |
1,34,652 |
|
1990-91 |
1,83,128 |
|
1991-92 |
97,157 |
|
1992-93 |
86,947 |
(Source: District Food and Supplies Controller, Faridkot)
(e) Merchants’ and Consumers’ Associations and Organs for dissemination
of Trade News
(i)
Merchants’ Associations
The following merchants’ associations have been formed to protect the interests of their members in the district:
1) Beopar Mandal, Moga
2) Wholesale Karyana Association, Malaut
3) Retail Karyana Association, Malaut
4) Halwai Union, Muktsar
5) Retail Karyana Union, Muktsar
(ii) Consumers’
Associations
There is only on such association registered in the district viz. Consumers’ Security Association, Muktsar.
Market Intelligence – For efficient marketing and right co-ordination of the forces of demand and supply, authentic information about the volume of marketable surplus, prices, arrivals, stocks and movements of the more important agricultural commodities is very essential. Market news about the rates of commodities are disseminated to the public through boards displaying rates outside the offices of the market committees and T.V. radio news bulletin, etc. Market news are also communicated through correspondence and by telephones. The village traders who are regularly in touch with the market conditions often communicate the market news to the public.
(f) Weights and Measures
Till 1941, there was no uniform use of standard weights and measures. The weights and measures differed not only from State to State but also from district to district in many respects. To protect the customers from defrauding from the traders, the Punjab Weights and Measures Act, 1941, which itself was a corollary to the Standard of Weights and Measures Act, 1939 passed by the Government of India. Under this Act, both the systems, viz. the Indian system i.e. tola, seer and maund, and avoirdupois system i.e. Ib. cwt. And tons were prescribed.
The square measure was the bighas equal to one fifth of an acre. The country kos was about one and quarter miles. Before the enforcement of 1956 Act, the following weights and measures were in common use among the people living in the area of the present Faridkot District.
|
In urban areas: |
Maund, 20 seers, 10 seers, 5 seers, 4 seers, 1 seer, Chhatank, tolas, mashas and ratis. |
|
In Rural areas: |
21/2 manns (kachcha) = 1 maund 11/4 manns (kachcha) = 20 seers 1 manns (kachcha) = 16 seers 1 dhari (10 seer kachcha) = 4 seers 1 panjseri (5 ser kachcha) =2 seers 21/2 ser (kachcha) =1 seer |
The standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956 was passed by the Parliament in 1956. The Act was passed by the Government to attain uniformity with the International Standards. The legislatures of different States were directed to enact legislation for the implementation of the same. The Act, envisages the uniform system of weights and measures viz. the metric system having the following units of measurement:-
Meter (for length);
Kilogram (for mass);
Second (for time);
Ampere (for electric current);
Kelvin (for theremodynomic temperatures); and
Candelo (for luminous intensity)
The Punjab Government in November 1958 enacted, the Punjab Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958 and in February 1959 notified the rules for its enforcement. From October 1960 the use of metric weights and measures was made compulsory. The use of metric system became obligatory from April 1962.
The system has been wholeheartedly adopted by the people living in rural areas.
(g) Storage and Warehousing
To suit the prevailing local conditions and climate, different methods of conserving food grains and other commodities have been adopted by agriculturists and merchants in olden days. In these days the storage was generally done in the back rooms of residential houses in cells (bharolas) or in open form or in bags. These methods of storage of food grains were very rough and unscientific. The concept of public warehousing is a recent development which ensures scientific storage of food grains and other commodities.
In markets the arhtias and co-operative marketing societies maintain their own godowns. The mills and factories also maintain their godowns in their premises to stock the requisite raw material. These storage facilities were not only insufficient but the methods of storage were also unscientific and without desires specifications. Keeping in view the need for scientific and organized storage of grains, the Agriculture produce (Development and Warehousing) Corporation Act, 1956 was passed Under Section 28 of the Act, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation was set up in 1948. It was reconstituted with effect from November 1967 after the re-organisation of the Punjab State under Section 18 of Punjab Warehousing Corporation was running ten warehouses at various places in the district. The average capacity and average utilization in each warehouse alongwith year of its opening are given below:
|
Total Capacity |
||||||
|
Sr.
No. |
Name
of centre |
Date
of opening of warehouses |
Owned |
Hired
|
Total
utilization |
Percentage
Occupancy |
|
1 |
Badhni Kalan |
March 1962 |
14,400 |
--- |
1,989 |
15 |
|
2 |
Bagha Purana |
September 1973 |
12,800 |
---- |
1,862 |
20 |
|
3 |
Bariwala |
August 1973 |
8,100 |
--- |
346 |
7 |
|
4 |
Balamgarh |
November 1988 |
--- |
9,000 |
2,696 |
51 |
|
5 |
Faridkot |
February 1962 |
27,450 |
--- |
5,939 |
81 |
|
6 |
Giddarbaha |
June 1973 |
11,700 |
5,412 |
14,169 |
90 |
|
7 |
Jaito |
April 1964 |
15,300 |
--- |
4,410 |
35 |
|
8 |
Kot Kapura |
March 1961 |
13,050 |
9,562 |
8,301 |
42 |
|
9 |
Malaut |
March 1964 |
26,550 |
--- |
5,135 |
24 |
|
10 |
Nihalsingwala |
August 1973 |
10,800 |
290 |
8,403 |
90 |
(Source: Managing Director, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Chandigarh)
The main functions of the corporation are : to acquire and build godowns and warehouses, to run warehouses for the storage of agricultural produce, seeds, fertilizers and notified commodities to and from warehouses: to act as an agent of the Government of Punjab for the purchase, produce, seeds, fertilizers and notified commodities.
The scheduled banks make advances to the depositors on the pledge of warehouse receipts according to the credit restriction of the Reserve Bank of India.
APPENDIX
I
Banking Offices functioning at various places in the Faridkot District as on 31 March 1993:-
|
Name
of bank |
|
||
|
I Punjab and Singh Bank |
33 Malaut |
||
|
1 Faridkot |
34 Panniwala Fatta |
||
|
2 Golewala |
35 Midda |
||
|
3 Jand Sahib |
36 Giddarbaha |
||
|
4 Kot Kapura |
37 Kotli Ablu |
||
|
5 Machaki Kalan |
38 Baika Khera |
||
|
6 Sandhwan |
39 Rorani Wali |
||
|
7 Baja Kana |
II
State Bank of India |
||
|
8 Sarawan |
1 Faridkot City |
||
|
9 Jaito |
2 Faridkot Cantt. |
||
|
10 Maur |
3 Kot Kapura |
||
|
11 Moga |
4 Kot Kapura |
||
|
12 Godhewala |
5 Jaito |
||
|
13 Ajitwal |
6 Moga |
||
|
14 Kokari Kalan |
7 Moga, A.D.B. |
||
|
15 Chirak |
8 Main Branch, Moga |
||
|
16 Tikhanwad |
9 G.T. Road, Moga |
||
|
17 Nathuwala Jadid |
10 Chuhar Chak |
||
|
18 Daroli Bhai |
11 Khosa Pandu |
||
|
19 Chand Nawan |
12 Bagha Purana |
||
|
20 Daulatpur Niwan |
13 Samadh bhai |
||
|
21 Bagha Purana |
14 Sukhanand |
||
|
22 Nathuwala West |
15 Muktsar (Kot Kapura Road) |
||
|
23 Samalsar |
16 Muktsar, A. D. B. |
||
|
24 Bhalur |
17 Muktsar (Bank Road) |
||
|
25 Muktsar |
18 Rupana |
||
|
26 Bariwala |
19 Malaut |
||
|
27 Chak Sherewala |
20 Bham |
||
|
28 Thandewala |
21 Giddarbaha |
||
|
29 Nihalsinghwala |
22 Asa Buttar |
||
|
30 Bilaspur |
23 Doda |
||
|
31 Raunta |
24 Abul Khurana |
||
|
32 Himatpura |
25 Channu |
||
|
III
Punjab national Bank |
11 Muktsar |
||
|
1 Faridkot |
12 Malaut |
||
|
2 Faridkot Cantt. |
13 Alamwala |
||
|
3 Kot Kapura |
14 Kot Bhai |
||
|
4 Jaito |
15 Giddarbaha |
||
|
5 Moga |
16 Bhalliana |
||
|
6 Moga (G.T. Road) |
17 Gurusar |
||
|
7 Dhudike |
18 Kilanwali |
||
|
8 Buttar |
V
Oriental Bank of Commerce |
||
|
9 Ghal Kalan |
1 Faridkot |
||
|
10 Veroke |
2 kot Kapura |
||
|
11 Badhani Kalan |
3 Matta |
||
|
12 Muktsar |
4 Moga |
||
|
13 Muktsar (Grain Market) |
5 Daudhar |
||
|
14 Bhagsar |
6 Dhalleke |
||
|
15 Harike kalan |
7 Lopon |
||
|
16 Lubhanianwali |
8 Patto Hirasingh |
||
|
17 Ladhewali |
9 Dina |
||
|
18 Malaut |
10 Muktsar |
||
|
19 Giddarbaha |
11 Sarai Nanga |
||
|
20 Lambi |
12 Malaut |
||
|
IV
State Bank of Patiala |
VI
New Bank of India |
||
|
1 Faridkot |
1 Faridkot |
||
|
2 Sadiq |
2 Kot Kapura |
||
|
3 Kot Kapura |
3 Moga |
||
|
4 Jaito |
4 Nihalsinghwala |
||
|
5 Bargari |
5 Saidoke |
||
|
6 Panjgirain Kalan |
6 Muktsar |
||
|
7 Dhilwan |
7 Badhni |
||
|
8 Wandar Jatana |
8 Malaut |
||
|
9 Moga |
VII
Central Bank of India |
||
|
10 Nihalsinghwala |
1 Faridkot |
||
|
2 Moga |
Moga |
||
|
3 Bagha Purana |
XIV
Indian Overseas Bank |
||
|
4 Gholia Khurd |
Moga |
||
|
5 Muktsar |
XV
Faridkot Bathinda Kshetriya Gramin Bank |
||
|
6 Lakhewali |
1 Faridkot |
||
|
7 Giddarbaha |
2 Dakhi Kalan |
||
|
8 Badal |
3 Dhudi |
||
|
VIII
Bank of India |
4 Daggo Ramana |
||
|
1 Faridkot |
5 Hari nau |
||
|
2 Moga |
6 Langiana Nawan |
||
|
3 Dala |
7 Aulakh |
||
|
4 Rode |
8 Kabarwala |
||
|
5 Bhullar |
9 Mallan |
||
|
IX Union Bank of India |
10 Khunan Khurd |
||
|
1 Faridkot |
11 Midu Khera |
||
|
2 Moga |
XVI The Faridkot Central Co-operative Bank Limited, |
||
|
3 Muktsar |
1 Faridkot |
||
|
X
Canara bank |
2 Sadiq |
||
|
1 Kot Kapura |
3 Machaki Kalan |
||
|
2 Moga |
4 Golewala |
||
|
3 Mari Mustafa |
5 Kot kapura |
||
|
XI
U. C. O. Bank |
6 Jand Sahib |
||
|
1 Moga (Grain Market) |
7 Kot Kapura |
||
|
2 Moga (Partap Road) |
8 Jaito |
||
|
3 Malaut |
9 Sarawan |
||
|
XII
Allahabad Bank |
10 Hari Nau |
||
|
1 Moga |
11 Baja Khana |
||
|
2 Mehna |
12 Panjgirain Kalan |
||
|
3 Manuki |
13 Sandhwan |
||
|
XIII
Bank of Baroda |
14 Bargari |
||
|
15 Matta |
14 Tikhanwad |
||
|
16 Gobind Singh |
15 Begha Purana |
||
|
17 Muktsar |
16 Samalsar |
||
|
18 Thandewala |
17 Mari Mustafa |
||
|
19 Bariwala |
18 Nathuwala West |
||
|
20 Lakhewali |
19 Samadh Bhai |
||
|
21 Badhni |
20 Manuki |
||
|
22 Malaut |
21 Thathi Bhai |
||
|
23 Midda |
22 Nihalsinghwala |
||
|
24 Aulakh |
23 Dina |
||
|
25 Giddarbaha |
24 Badhni Kalan |
||
|
26 Asa Buttar |
25 Patto Hirasingh |
||
|
27 Kotli Ablu |
26 Bilaspur |
||
|
28 Doda |
27 Saidoke |
||
|
29 Lambi |
28 Raunta |
||
|
30 Roranwali |
29 Sukhanand |
||
|
31 Rasulpur Khera |
30 Rania |
||
|
XVII
The Moga Central Coop. Bank Ltd. Moga |
7 Khokkarana |
||
|
1 Moga |
8 Daudhar |
||
|
2 Moga Mandi |
9 Daroli Bhai |
||
|
3 Ajitwal |
10 Chand Nawan |
||
|
4 Chirak |
11 Khosa Pandu |
||
|
5 Dala |
12 Kokari Kalan |
||
|
6 Chugawan |
13 Daultpur Niwan |
||
|
XVII The Primary Co-operative Agricultural
Land Development Bank Ltd. |
|||
|
1 The Faridkot Primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agriculture |
|
|
2 The Jaito Primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
|
3 The Moga Primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
|
4 The Nihalsinghwala primary cultural Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
|
5 The Muktsar Primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
|
6 The Malaut primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
|
7 The Lambi Primary Development Bank Ltd |
Co-operative |
Agricultural |
|
(Source: Lead Bank Officer, Faridkot and Punjab State Co-operative Agriculture Development Bank Limited, Chandigarh)
APPENDIX-II
Work done by the Co-operative Agricultural Credit Societies in the Faridkot District during the year 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86, to 1992-93
|
Membership |
||||||
|
Co-operative year ending
June |
No. of Co-operative
societies at the end of the year |
Socie-ties |
Indivi-duals |
Share capital paid up (Rs
in lakhs) |
Loans advanced during the
year (Rs in lakhs) |
Deposits (Rs in lakhs) |
|
1975-76 |
452 |
--- |
1,41,450 |
142.04 |
739.05 |
39.44 |
|
1980-81 |
362 |
--- |
1,42,976 |
319.00 |
3,196.35 |
52.07 |
|
1985-86 |
362 |
--- |
1,46,454 |
379.91 |
3,765.08 |
103.07 |
|
1986-87 |
362 |
--- |
1,57,101 |
388.84 |
3,496.04 |
116.04 |
|
1987-88 |
389 |
--- |
1,50,504 |
427.12 |
3,603.25 |
85.91 |
|
1988-89 |
389 |
--- |
1,49,214 |
442.48 |
2,980.02 |
94.05 |
|
1989-90 |
389 |
--- |
1,45,000 |
452.92 |
5,612.79 |
119.40 |
|
1990-91 |
389 |
--- |
1,57,072 |
659.24 |
6,216.82 |
201.04 |
|
1991-92 |
389 |
--- |
1,48,059 |
659.24 |
7,255.61 |
226.80 |
|
1992-93 |
389 |
--- |
1,57,898 |
659.24 |
8,375.39 |
222.39 |
APPENDIX-III
Work done by the Co-operative Non-Agricultural Societies in the Faridkot District during the year 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86, to 1992-93
|
Membership |
||||||
|
Co-operative year ending
June |
No. of Co-operative societies
at the end of the year |
Societies |
Indivi- duals |
Share capital paid up (Rs
in lakhs) |
Loans advanced during the
year (Rs in lakhs) |
Deposits (Rs in lakhs) |
|
1975-76 |
12 |
--- |
204 |
0.52 |
2.31 |
0.66 |
|
1980-81 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
6.20 |
16.34 |
4.96 |
|
1985-86 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
6.20 |
38.21 |
8.17 |
|
1986-87 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
6.20 |
38.76 |
21.58 |
|
1987-88 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
6.20 |
44.71 |
22.29 |
|
1988-89 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
7.47 |
53.98 |
34.37 |
|
1989-90 |
116 |
--- |
4,758 |
12.04 |
98.53 |
71.55 |
|
1990-91 |
116 |
--- |
4,852 |
17.34 |
162.05 |
290.48 |
|
1991-92 |
116 |
--- |
4,887 |
20.70 |
129.32 |
191.22 |
|
1992-93 |
116 |
--- |
4,950 |
20.04 |
78.43 |
161.35 |
APPENDIX-IV
Work done by the Co-operative Marketing Societies in the Faridkot District during the year 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86, to 1992-93
|
Membership |
|||||||
|
Co-operative year ending
June |
No. of Co-operative
societies at the end of the year |
Societies |
Individuals |
Share capital paid up (Rs
in lakhs) |
Loans advanced during the
year (Rs in lakhs) |
Deposits (Rs in lakhs) |
|
|
1975-76 |
10 |
7,462 |
736 |
8,198 |
5.14 |
2.76 |
16.04 |
|
1980-81 |
11 |
8,293 |
736 |
9,029 |
6.70 |
3.82 |
47.62 |
|
1985-86 |
11 |
8,620 |
736 |
9,356 |
13.17 |
4.00 |
37.72 |
|
1986-87 |
11 |
8,633 |
736 |
9,369 |
11.13 |
2.95 |
35.78 |
|
1987-88 |
11 |
8,633 |
736 |
9,369 |
12.25 |
2.98 |
51.15 |
|
1988-89 |
11 |
8,676 |
736 |
9,412 |
12.56 |
4.91 |
85.77 |
|
1989-90 |
11 |
8,895 |
747 |
9,642 |
12.25 |
6.24 |
72.34 |
|
1990-91 |
11 |
8,895 |
747 |
9,642 |
12.25 |
6.82 |
61.34 |
|
1991-92 |
11 |
10,023 |
747 |
10,770 |
11.55 |
6.91 |
51.80 |
|
1992-93 |
11 |
10,023 |
747 |
10,770 |
12.65 |
6.26 |
45.90 |
(Source deputy
Registrar, Co-operative Society, Faridkot)
COMMUNICATIONS
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The history of routes dates back to the dawn recorded history and beyond. Their construction began with man’s first quest in search of food, water and plunder. With the advancement of knowledge followed by the invention of energy and power different means of conveyance came into power different means of conveyance came into existence. No precise account of ancient period regarding the roads and means of communications in the district is available. Good system of communications of a region plays a vital role in its economic development. It has been observed that if agriculture and industry are the body and the bones of a national organism, communications are its nerves. Means of transport like roads, railways, waterways, airways and gas and oil pipeline, etc. and means of communications, like post and telegraph services, telephones and wireless system are sine qua non for the growth and development of the economy from its social, cultural, economic, administrative and political point of view.
(a) Old-time Trade Routes and Highways and Modes of Conveyance
In earlier days the routes were unpaved and rivers
mostly unbridged. The road system remained badly neglected for long. There are
good number of instances available in the history about the importance of roads
and the rulers of the day laid emphasis for the construction of roads. The main
initiative was taken up by Sher Shah Suri in 16th century. He
constructed the Grand Trunk Road (popularly known as G.T. Road) which is named
after his name as Sher Singh Suri Marg (National Highway No. 1). It is the
oldest road passing through the territory of Punjab. The pace of road
construction, however, picked-up with the advent of British Rule. Earlier the
roads were constructed taking into consideration the administration convenience
and strategic point of view only.
(b) Road Transport
During the eighties of the nineteenth century the principal roads in the district were Firozpur to Ludhiana passing through Moga, Firozpur to Faridkot, Karnal to Firozpur via Mudki-Bagha Purana, Firozpur to Jalandhar via Mallanwala, Fazilka to Sirsa via Arniwala-Malaut and Lambi. The roads in the erst-while Princely State area were mettalled roads from Faridkot to Chand Baja, Faridkot to Bir Chahal (6.50 km), Kot Kapura to Panjiraian and Beyond (13.00 km), Faridkot Railway Station to Jail Gate via the cantonment (6.50 km) and Faridkot to Kot Kapura to Nahianwala (37.00 km) Kot Kapura to Khara (16.00 km) Bhagta to Kesarwala (6.50 km), Kingra to Bodla (19.50 km), Ablu to Dewan (13.00 km), and from Malaut to Fazilka (in Firozpur District). The condition of roads was not very healthy. The village roads were generally in dilapidated Condition. After the Independence need was felt for constructing more roads for the economic development of the country as a result now there is a network of roads in the district.
The major roads passing through the Faridkot
District are : Moga-Muktsar-Malaut Road, Malaut-Sriganga Nagar Road, Bagha
Purana-Nathana Road, Moga-Badhni-Ramgarh Road, Muktsar-Malaut Road, Moga-Harike
Road, etc.
The following table shows the position of roads in
the district during 1975-76, 1980-81, 1985-86, to 1992-93: -
|
Year |
Metalled |
Unmetalled |
Total |
|
1975-76 |
2,051 |
114 |
2,175 |
|
1980-81 |
2,718 |
39 |
--- |
|
1985-86 |
2,937 |
90 |
3,027 |
|
1986-87 |
3,081 |
40 |
3,121 |
|
1987-88 |
3,132 |
6 |
3,138 |
|
1988-89 |
3,138 |
--- |
3,138 |
|
1989-90 |
3,138 |
--- |
3,138 |
|
1990-91 |
4,063 |
--- |
4,063 |
|
1991-92 |
4,017 |
--- |
4,017 |
|
1992-93 |
4,017 |
--- |
4,017 |
(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1976, 1981 and 986 to 1993)
(i) Classification of Roads
Roads have been classified as National Highway, State Highways, District Major Roads, District Minor Roads and Village Roads by the Nagpur Road Plan of 1943
A detailed description of each of this category of roads is being given below:
National Highways – The National Highways serve as inter-State links and are of national, strategic and administrative importance. These are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department out of the Central Government funds. National Highways No. 15 (Pathankot-Kandla) and National Highway No. 10 (Delhi-Hisar-Sulemanki) roads pass through the district. The total length of National Highways which traverse the district as on 31 March 1993 was 126 km.
State Highways– These are main arterial roads of the State and are generally connected with the National Highways. Some times, they connect highways of adjacent States and also district headquarters of important cities. These are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department. The State Highways passing through the district are State Highway passing through the district are State Highway No. 18 Kharar-Ludhiana-Firozpur Border Road (45.00 km), State Highway No. 15 Faridkot-Firozpur Road (18.00 km), State Highway No. 16 Jalandhar-Nakodar-Moga-Kot Kapura-Muktsar Road (132.0 km), State Highway No. 10 A Bagha Purana-Bhagta-Bhucho-Bathinda-Dabwali Road (18.00 km), and State Highway No. 19 Barnala-Moga-Harike-Khalra Road (47.00 km). The total length of State Highways (on 31 March 1993) traversing the district was 260.00 km.
District Major Roads – These are defined as roads traversing each district, serving areas of production and markets and connecting these with each or with highways and railway stations. These roads are also maintained by the State Public Works Department. On 31 March 1993, the total length of these roads on the district was 157 km.
Other District Roads – These serve as important arteries of communications among the different parts of the district. Their total length in the district, as on 31 March 1993 was 326 km.
The other district roads also include the roads formerly falling under head ‘district minor roads, since the use of the latter term has been discontinued.
Village Approach Roads – These roads connect villages or groups of villages with one another and to the nearest district roads. These are constructed by the joint efforts of the villagers. Previously. Some of these roads were maintained by the Zila Parishad, Faridkot, but now these have been transferred to the State Public Works Department. The total length of these roads in the district as on 31 March 1993 was 3,148 km.
(ii) Vehicles and
Conveyance
Prior to the advent of automobiles and still more recently in the early forties of this century the common modes of conveyance in the urban areas was tonngas or animal drawn carts for transporting goods and animal passengers for small distances. Buses as a mode of transport was not common. The animal drawn conveyance were to some extent replaced by cycle-rickshaws. But with the economic development of the country and expansion of automobile industry and spread of road network a large veriety of automobiles now ply on the roads for short as well as long distance both for goods and passengers. Even the tractors which were meant for the field are now frequently seen on the roads carrying agricultural produce and other goods from villages to towns and vice-versa.
Automobile – The automobile have made the travel easy and fast. It has become a common means of travel and transportation of goods even for long distance.
The automobiles which ply in the district are: motor-cycle, scooters, mopeds, pick-up vans, cars, jeeps, taxis, buses, trucks, tractors, auto-rickshaws, etc. the number of different types of motor vehicles registered in the district upto 1992-93 (year-wise) is given in Appendix I on page 256.
Bicycles– The bicycle is the most popular means of conveyance for relatively short distances. Its operation is economical and it can be put to multiple uses. Moreover, its maintenance cost, is also very low. It is an essential means of conveyance especially for school going children, the poor and lower middle class persons. The villagers bring vegetables, milk and other, agricultural produce to the urban markets on cycles.
Cycle-Rickshaws– It is here-wheeled cycle pulled by a man with a sitting capacity of two persons and is used to cover short distance generally within the city areas. It is cheap, convenient and easy type of conveyance as compared to mechanically operated vehicles. Its charges are low and it has not to wait for passengers for long as only two persons make its full capacity. Moreover, it can pass through narrow and zig-zag streets also. The development of roads has increased the mobility of cycle-rickshaws from the towns to the adjoining villages. According to the bye-laws framed by the state Government, persons who are physically fit and are between the age of 18 and 45 generally ply this vehicle.
Under the Punjab Cycle Rickshaw (Regulation of Licence) Act, 1976, licences are issued to the owners only.
Horse Carriages– Although buses and rickshaws are plying in all the towns of the district, the horse carriages are still in vogue under the changed name horse carts. The farmers and shopkeepers who cannot afford tractor-trollies have maintained horses, donkeys and camel carts. As a means of conveyance, horse/donkeys carts are very helpful in carrying passengers and carriage of goods from one part of the city to another, from town to town, from town to villages and vice-versa. Tongas, and ekkas are useful and cheap means of transportation for the villagers as well as for the local passengers in the towns. There is keen competition between the horse-drawn carriages, on the one hand, and the local buses, mini-buses, tempos and auto-rickshaws on the other.
(iii) Public and Private
Transport
The Provincial Transport Controller headed the Transport Department till June 1969. He was responsible for the enforcement of Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed thereunder. The Commercial Wing of the Department also functioned under his control. In order to give equal justice to the private operators and State owned transport, the Transport Department was bifurcated in June 1969, in two wings the Commercial Wing and Non-Commercial Wing. The former, known as Punjab Roadways was placed under the control of Director, State Transport Commissioner, Punjab as Head of the Department. The Director, State Transport being overall in charge of the Commercial Wing, is concerned with the development and operation of State Transport buses on commercial basis. The State Transport Commissioner looks after the non-commercial wing of the Transport Department. He is vested with powers and functions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 and Punjab Motor Vehicles rules, 1989. His main functions are : to issue licence to the drivers and conductors and for opening driving training schools; to register motor vehicles; to realize motor vehicle taxes; to issue permits to the transport vehicles/stage carriage permits, contract permits, contract carriage permits, permit to mini-buses, passenger tempos, auto rickshaws and all India tourist permits; to maintain motor vehicles board of inspection; to control traffic by resorting to traffic checking, checking of illegal operation of private operators, etc; to finalize the reciprocal agreements with other adjoining states.
Before the Independence, road transport was largely in the hands of private owners, who were interested mainly in large profits and seldom cared for the convenience of passengers. With the increase in the network of roads and rapid industrialization, road transport has expanded manifold. Therefore, the Government have started gradual and progressive nationalization of this service. At present, there is a partial nationalization of passenger transport service in the State. As per New Transport Policy of the State announced on 9 August 1990 all inter-state routes are to be operated by State Transport Undertakings; all operations on inter-state routes in accordance with the reciprocal agreement or understanding between the concerned states to be exclusively undertaken by the State Transport and monopoly routes to be exclusively operated by State Transport. As regards bus routes on National Highways falling within the State, these are shared in the ratio of 70:30 between the State Transport and private bus operators. On State Highways and other routes this ratio is 50:50.
Mini Bus Services- Mini Bus Scheme has been introduced by the government to generate employment especially to unemployed youths of border districts. However, preference is also given to ex-servicemen, Scheduled Castes, Jodhpur detainess and Sikh migrants.
National Permit Scheme – Under this scheme which was launched in 1986 by the Government of India a person is issued a national permit to operate his vehicle throughout the country or in the specified states. The only requirement is that his vehicle should be less than 12 years old and should be mechanically fit. The composite fee charged by the Punjab State is Rs 1,500.
State Owned Services– Majority of the bus routes in the district are operated by the Faridkot depot of the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation and Punjab Roadways depots Moga and Muktsar. The PEPSU Road Transport Corporation, Faridkot Depot was set up on 14 October 1973, and Punjab roadways, Moga and Muktsar depots on 1 April 1968 and on 1 January 1977, respectively. The details of the routes operated by the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation Faridkot Depot and Punjab Roadways Moga and Muktsar depots are given in Appendix-II at the end of the Chapter on pages 257 5o 266.
Private Bus Services – As per the transport policy of the Government a number of bus routes have been allotted to the private transport companies in the district. Besides, Government has also issued mini bus route permits to private bus operators in the district. The particulars regarding the names of private companies and the routes operated by them are given in Appendix-III at pages 267 to 277.
Goods Transport – It is entirely in the hands of private companies and owners. The State Government is following liberal policy for the grant of public carrier permits. Anybody who comes forward with a mechanically fit and roadworthy vehicle is issued a truck permit. To facilitate inter-state movement of trucks for the transportation of goods from one State to another, the State Government has entered into liberal agreements with other States to facilitate free flow of goods throughout country.