Co-operative Consumers Stores. –A consumers’ co-operative store is a business enterprise owned and managed by the consumers’ association to supply them pure, unadulterated and good quality stuff, in correct weight and measure, at reasonable prices.
Prior to the introduction of the centrally sponsored scheme for the organisation of co-operative consumers’ stores in big cities, primary co-operative consumers stores were organised. These primary stores did not make any appreciable progress due to inadequate active membership, meager share capital, lack of business experience and weak organisational structure. Consequently, a scheme was prepared by the Government of India, under which a number of primary consumers stores around separate wholesale stores were to be opened in all towns and cities with a population of 50,000 or above.
There are two central co-operative consumers stores in the district, viz., the Batala Central Co-operative Consumers Stores Ltd., Batala, and the Pathankot Central Co-operative Consumers Store Ltd., Pathankot. Their main aims are to ensure equitable distributors of various kinds of articles to the consumers at competitive rates. The Batala Central Control Co-operative Consumers Stores Ltd., Batala, was registered on July 19, 1963. On June 30, 1972, it was running 8 Branches (7 at Batala and 1 at Qadian). The membership of the store on June 30,1972, stood at 5,087, with a paid up share capital of Rs.1,77,762. The Pathankot, was registered on June 22,1963. On June 30, 1972, it was running 8 batches (7 at Pathankot and 1 at Gurdaspur). The membership of the store on June 30,1972, stood at 4,801 with a paid up share capital of Rs. 3,11,605.
The State Trading Scheme was introduced in the Punjab in 1958-59 to provide essential commodities to the people at reasonable rates. The need for fair price shops was felt in 1960, when there was scarcity of wheat flour, sugar and rice. Fair price shops were, therefore, opened to ensure fair prices to consumers and to check the spiral of rising prices. On March 31, 1972, there were 230 fair price shops (including co-operative stores) functioning in the urban areas and 428 shops in the rural areas of the district.
The State Trading in foodgrains (wheat) was introduced in the State during 1959. The total quantity of foodgrains purchased by the Food and Supplies Department from the important markets in the district, during 1966-67 to 1971-72, is given below ;
|
Year |
|
Quantity purchased (Tonnes) |
|
1966-67 |
.. |
2,257 |
|
1967-68 |
.. |
4,558 |
|
1968-69 |
.. |
4,630 |
|
1969-70 |
.. |
15,052 |
|
1970-71 |
.. |
68,483 |
|
1971-72 |
.. |
85,267 |
(Source. – District Food and Supplies Controller, Gurdaspur)
(e) Merchants’ and Consumers’
Associations and Organs for the
Dissemination of Trade News
There are no merchants’ or consumers’ associations functioning in the district.
Market intelligence.- Dissemination of market intelligence among the people operation on the markets goes a long way in generating competition and promoting fair-play and justice in market transaction. There is no regular agency for the dissemination of market news in the district. The public, in general visits the market centres periodically and keeps itself in touch with the market affairs. The village traders who are in regular touch with the market conditions often communicate the market news to the public. In some of the regular markets, the market committees exhibit the market news on a board for the public to know the market fluctuations. Market news are also communicated to deals at different [laces through correspondence and truck-calls. The co-operative marketing societies receive market information cards from allied societies. The all India Radio, Jullundur, broadcasts daily the news of the various markets in the State.
According
to the Ain-i-Akbari, the need for standardisation of weights and
measures in India was felt as early as the end of the 16th century. The Emperor
Akbar is said to have introduced the Iiahi gaz (33’’-34’’) with the object of
standardisation of the then prevailing three gaz (yard) systems, but the result
only was to add a fourth one. Repeated and varied efforts have been made in
modern times also to remove this widespread impediment to honest and smooth
trading.6
Prior to the introduction of metric system, pucka and kutcha systems of weight were in vogue in the district. The kutcha seer was prevalent usually in rural areas. Two and a half kutcha seers were equal to one pucka seer, that is of 80 tolas. The detail of the _______________________________________________________________
6.
A.S.
SRIVASTAVA, AGRICULTURAL MARKETING in INDIA and Abroad, pp. 62-64
weights and measures, which were in use in the district are given below7:
|
Gold Weight |
.. |
8 Ratties |
= |
1 Masha |
|
|
|
12 Mashas |
= |
1 Toal |
|
|
|
5 Tolas |
= |
1 Chatak or Sarsai |
|
|
|
16 Chataks |
= |
1 Ser |
|
Grain Weight |
.. |
2 Sers |
= |
1 Batti |
|
|
|
4 Sers |
= |
1 Dhari |
|
|
|
40 Sers |
= |
1 Man |
|
Note |
.. |
1 Kacha Ser |
= |
32 Tolas |
|
|
|
1 Kacha Man |
= |
16 Sers |
|
Grain Measure |
.. |
1 Paropi |
= |
32 Tolas |
|
|
|
4 Paropi or 128 Tolas |
= |
1 Topa |
|
|
|
4 Topas |
= |
1 Pie |
|
|
|
50 pies |
= |
1 Mani or 8 Maunds |
|
Cloth Measure |
.. |
3 Jaus |
= |
1 Angusht Finger |
|
|
|
3 Angushts |
= |
1 Girha |
|
|
|
16 Girhas |
= |
1 Gaz |
|
In the hill track |
.. |
4 Angusht |
= |
1 Chharik |
|
|
|
8 Chhariks |
= |
1 Gaz (3/4 English yard) |
|
Timber Measure |
.. |
24 Taswasa |
= |
1Tassu |
|
|
|
24 Tassus |
= |
1 Gaz (yard) |
|
Land Measure |
.. |
3 feet |
= |
1 Gaz |
|
|
|
1.5 Gaz |
= |
1 Karam |
|
|
|
3 Karams |
= |
1 Kan |
|
|
|
3 Square Kans |
= |
1 Marla |
|
|
|
20 Marlas |
= |
1 Kanal |
|
|
|
8 Kanals |
= |
1 Ghamaon |
|
|
|
9 Kanals 12 Marlas |
= |
1 Acre |
|
|
|
4 Kanals |
= |
1 Begah |
_______________________________________________________________
7.
Gazetteer
of the Gurdaspur District, 1891-92, pp.140-41
To standardise weights and measures throughout the country, the Government of India passed the Standards of weights Act, 1939, which came into forces in 1942. Under the Act, both the systems were prescribed, viz., the India system, i.e., tola, seer and maund, and the avoirdupois syatem, i.e., Ib., cwts., and tons.
The passage of Punjab Weights and Measures Act, 1941, brought some uniformity in the system of weights and measures. The metric system of weights and measures was introduced with effect from October 1958, in accordance with the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956, passed by the Parliament, and the Punjab Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958, framed thereunder. In the case of weights, the use of the old weights too was allowed for a period of two years and, from October 1960, the use of metric weights was made compulsory. In the case of measures, a period of one year was allowed for the measures proviously in vogue and, from April 1962, metric measures were made compulsory. The use of metric units also became obligatory from April 1962.
In Gurdaspur district, Batala is the main centre for manufacturing weights. Only those factories which have received licences, under the Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1958, are allowed to manufacture weight series.
The public in general and the rural masses in particular did experience difficulty in understanding the new weights and measures system, but, in course of time, they got accustomed to it.
There are 4 Inspectors, Weights and Measures, who verify weights, scales, etc., used in the district. One of these is posted at Gurdaspur, two at Batala and one at Pathankot.
Prior to the formation of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in 1958, the method of storage in villages was very rough and unscientific. The storage was generally done in the back room of residential houses in cells (bharolas) or in open form or in bags. The floors and walls were not cemented.
The method of storage in bharolas still exits in the villages. However, the co-operative agricultural societies have built up their godowns with Government assistance to facilitate storage in rural areas. The cultivators can store up their produce in such godowns during the slack season and can wait for fair price subsequently. They can also get advances on the basis of their produce stored in the godowns. The marketing co-operative societies also get loans and subsidies from the Government for the construction of godowns. In the mandis, the commission agents arrange the back rooms of their shops for storage purpose. Such rooms are cemented and the commodities are safe any kind of damage. On almost all important railway stations in the district, godowns or sheds have been provided for temporary storage of goods and parcels.
The Warehousing Corporation came into being as a result of the recommendations made in 1954 by the All India Rural Credit Survey Committee. The Agricultural Produce Development and Warehousing Corporation Act, 1956, pioneered the formation of the Central Warehousing Corporation and a network of State Warehousing Corporations, with the avowed object of providing scientific storage at low charges and arranging for cheap and quick credit facilities against the stored produce. The Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, initially set up in January 1958, was re-established after the re-organisation of the erstwhile Punjab State on November 1,1966. The Punjab Government and the Central Warehousing are the two equal share-holders of the State Corporation.
The functions of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation are : to acquire and build godowns and warehouses at such places within the State as it may, with the previous approval of the Central Warehousing Corporation, determine ; to run warehouses in the State for the storage of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers and notified commodities ; to arrange facilities for the transport of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers and notified commodities to and from warehouses ; and to act as an agent of the Central Warehousing Corporation or of the Government for the purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers and notified commodities.
The corporation also undertakes fumigation of stocks under the Technical Advisory Scheme on payment of the fumigation charges. The working of the corporation is not with a profit motive and charges are very moderate. The existing rates 25 paise per bag of one quintal of foodgrains per month. The co-operative societies are given a rebate of 10 per cent. The scheduled banks make advances to the depositors on the pledge of warehouses receipts, according to the credit restrictions of the Reserve Bank of India. The stocks stored in warehouses are guaranteed against damages by pests, theft, fire, flood, etc. The corporation stores the produce in hired as well as own constructed godowns.
The Corporation has seven centres in the district at Gurdaspur, Dhariwal, Dinanagar, Batala, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian and Ghuman. The warehouses at Fatehgarh Churian and Ghuman were opened during the year 1972-73. The total capacity of storage accommodation available with the corporation, as on September 30, 1972, was 12,167 metric tonnes.
APPENDIX I
(Vide page 188)
Work Done by the Co-operative Agricultural Credit Societies in Gurdaspur District, 1966-67 to 1971-72
|
|
|
|
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) |
|
1966-67 |
.. |
1,275 |
.. |
1,06,163 |
45.38 |
162.52 |
28.28 |
|
1967-68 |
.. |
1,243 |
.. |
1,10,581 |
52.48 |
216.01 |
33.61 |
|
1968-69 |
.. |
1,235 |
.. |
1,14,295 |
59.35 |
294.02 |
43.29 |
|
1969-70 |
.. |
1,235 |
.. |
1,16,333 |
64.28 |
311.06 |
37.26 |
|
1970-71 |
.. |
1,236 |
.. |
1,17,729 |
67.93 |
298.52 |
39.42 |
|
1971-72 |
.. |
1,238 |
.. |
1,19,186 |
73.60 |
328.37 |
43.02 |
` (Source:
Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Gurdaspur)
APPENDIX II
(Vide page 188)
Work Done by the Co-operative Non-Agricultural Credit Societies in Gurdaspur District, 1966-67 to 1971-72
|
|
|
|
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) |
|
1966-67 |
.. |
150 |
.. |
8,118 |
4.18 |
5.99 |
2.23 |
|
1967-68 |
.. |
149 |
.. |
8,111 |
4.22 |
7.49 |
2.68 |
|
1968-69 |
.. |
147 |
.. |
8,130 |
4.30 |
6.00 |
2.50 |
|
1969-70 |
.. |
147 |
.. |
8,180 |
4.39 |
6.39 |
4.39 |
|
1970-71 |
.. |
146 |
.. |
8,133 |
4.44 |
5.71 |
4.30 |
|
1971-72 |
.. |
145 |
.. |
8,097 |
4.55 |
6.63 |
5.52 |
` (Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Gurdaspur)
APPENDIX III
Fairs and Festivals of Trade
Significance in the Gurdaspur District
|
Town / Village |
Fair/ Festivals |
Date and duration |
Significance and legend |
Approximate No. of visitors and radius covered |
Castes-Communities |
Commodities sold |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
Tahsil Gurdaspur |
|
|
|
|
Chitti |
Mela Baba Keasr Singh |
Asarh 3 and 4 (June-July) Two days |
Religious The Fair was started by Baba Kesar Singh for propagating religion |
2,000 48 km |
Sikhs |
Earthen pots, agricultural implements |
|
Jhawar |
Jor Mela |
Poh 7 (December- January) three days |
Religious Associated with Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday |
5,000 48km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
General merchandise, articles of decoration for cattle |
|
Naushehra |
Hola Mohalla |
March Two days |
Religious |
3,000 8km |
Hindus |
Utensils, general merchandise |
|
Pindori |
Baisakhi |
Baisakh 1 (April 13) One day |
Seasonal and religious |
Several thousand 16 km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Toys, Plough, earthen vessels |
|
Kotli Harchandan |
Baisakhi |
Baisakh 1 (April 13) One day |
Seasonal and religious |
7,000 16km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
General merchandise, agricultural implements, sticks, baskets |
|
Rauwal |
Mela Pir |
Sawan 20 (July-August) Two days |
Religious |
3,000 19km |
All |
Agricultural Implements, general merchandise |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
|
Kahnuwan |
Dussehra |
Asoj Sudi 10 (September - October |
Religious |
10,000 16km |
All, especially Hindus |
General merchandise, agricultural implements, toys |
|
Talibpur |
Baisakhi |
Baisakh 1 (April 13) Three days |
Seasonal and religious |
40,000 13km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
General merchandise, agricultural, toys, utensils, animals |
|
Talibpur |
Janam Ashtami |
Bhadon Badi 8 (August –September) Three days |
Religious |
6,000 |
Hindus |
Ditto |
|
Dinanagar |
Cattle fair |
Every month |
Commercial |
1,000 |
All, men only |
Cattle and other animals |
|
Gurdaspur |
Cattle fair |
Every month |
Commercial |
15,000 |
All, men only |
Cattle and other animals, agriculture implements |
|
Dhariwal |
Amavas Mela |
On Amavas of each Bikrami month One day |
Religious |
2,000 16km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Utensils, toys |
|
Dhariwal |
Baisakhi |
Baisakh 1 (April 13) One day |
Seasonal and religious |
4,000 32km |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Toys, utensils |
|
Dhariwal |
Dussehra |
Asoj Sudi 10 (September – October |
Religious |
4,000 24km |
All, especially Hindus |
Toys, utensils |
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
Tahsil Batala |
|
|
|
|
Ghuman |
Swami Nam Dev fair |
From Lohri to Magh 6 (January – February) One week |
Religious |
5,000 |
Hindus, especially followers of Swami Nam Dev |
Cloth brass and bronze utensils, leather goods, crockery, pictures |
|
Dhianpur |
Mela Baba Lalji |
February 6 One day |
Religious |
10,000 |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Cloth, toys |
|
Dera Baba Nanak |
Chola Sahiba |
Phagan 20 (February-March) Three days |
Religious in memory of Guru Nanak Dev whose chola (cloth) was brought from Persia to this Place |
1,00,000 |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Cloth, leather goods, cosmetics, bangles, general merchandise |
|
Dera Baba Nanak |
Baisakhi |
Baisakh 1 (April 13) Two days |
Seasonal and religious |
75,000 |
Sikhs and Hindus |
Ditto |
|
Fatehgarh Churian |
Cattle fair |
Every Month |
Commercial |
2,000 24km |
All, men only |
Cattle and other animals, agricultural implements |
|
Batala |
Cattle fair |
Ist of every month One week |
Commercial |
2,000 |
All, men only |
Cattle and other animals, fodder, articles, agricultural implements |
(Census of India, 1961, District Census Handbook No. 14, Gurdaspur District pp.118-149;
List of cattle Fairs, 1972, issued in Hindi/Punjabi/Urdu by the Development and Panchayat Department, Punjab, Chandigarh)
APPENDIX IV
Work done by Co-operative Marketing
Societies in Gurdaspur District, 1966-67 to 1971 to 1971-72
|
Co-operative Year ending June |
|
|
Membership |
|||||
|
|
No. of Societies |
|
|
|
Share Capital paid up (Rs in lakh) |
Working Capital (Rs in Lakh) |
Value of gods marked (Rs in lakh) |
|
|
|
Societies |
Individuals |
Total |
|||||
|
1966-67 |
.. |
8 |
1,128 |
2,127 |
3,255 |
8.52 |
28.85 |
92.45 |
|
1967-68 |
.. |
8 |
1,116 |
2,378 |
3,494 |
8.52 |
45.82 |
265.04 |
|
1968-69 |
.. |
8 |
1,184 |
2,569 |
3,753 |
9.39 |
95.69 |
732.86 |
|
1969-70 |
.. |
8 |
1,201 |
3,046 |
4,247 |
9.39 |
128.24 |
748.80 |
|
1970-71 |
.. |
8 |
1,135 |
3,109 |
4,244 |
9.65 |
139.04 |
1,057.29 |
|
1971-72 |
.. |
8 |
1,145 |
3,223 |
4,368 |
9.78 |
191.90 |
1,046.62 |
(Source: Assistant Register, Co-operative Societies, Gurdaspur)