(ii) Co-operative Consumers’ Stores:

The primary Co-operative Consumer’s Stores did not prove useful due to inadequate active membership, meager share capital, lack of business experience and weak organizational structure. Consequently, a centrally sponsored scheme for the organization of Co-operative Consumers’ Stores in big cities was introduced under which a number of primary consumers’ stores around separate wholesale stores were to be opened in all towns and cities, each with a population of 50,000 or above.

The Kapurthala Central Co-operative Consumers’ Store Ltd., Kapurthala was registered on 16 August 1963. It aims t ensuring equitable distribution of various kinds of commodities to the consumers at competitive rates.

On 31 March 1982 it was running 8 branches at Kapurthala. The membership of the store in 1981-82 stood at 3,773 with a paid up share capital of Rs. 3,82,935.

The Phagwara Central Co-operative Consumers’ Store Ltd., Phagwara was registered on 17 March 1967. The number of branches run by the store as on 30^th June, 1982 was 7. The membership of the store on 30 June 1982, stood at 1362, with a paid up share capital of Rs. 3,64,455.

(d) State Trading

With a view to providing essential commodities at reasonable prices, the Government introduced the State Trading Scheme in the Kapurthala District in 1959. Since in 1960, there was an acute shortage of wheat-flour and sugar, the necessity of opening fair-price depots was realized. Consequently, many fair-price shops were opened to ensure fair prices to the consumers and also to curb black-marketing to essential commodities. On 31 March 1982, there were 79 depots/fair price shops in the urban areas (19 in the co-operative sector and 60 in the private sector), and 330 depots in the rural areas (92 in the co-operative sector, 4 in the private sector and 234 panchayat nominated) of the district.

The total quantities of food grains purchased by the Food and Supplies Department, from the Food Corporation of India and other important markets under the State Trading Scheme, during 1976-77 to 1981-82, in the district are given below:

Year	Particulars	Quantity purchased (tonnes)
1976-77	Wheat	40,651
1977-78	Wheat	39,306
1978-79	Wheat	35,654
1979-80	Wheat	34,014
1980-81	Wheat	41,587
1981-82	Wheat	38,604

(Source: District Food and Supplies Controller, Kapurthala )

(a) Merchants’ and Consumers’ Associations and Organs for the Dissemination of Trade News

Merchants’ Associations

1. Kapurthala Industries Manufacturers’ Association, Kapurthala.

2. Kapurthala Rice shellers’ Association, Kapurthala.

3. Kapurthala Karyana Merchants’ Association, Kapurthala.

4. Kapurthala Cloth Merchants’ Association, Kapurthala.

5. Kapurthala General Merchants’ Association, Kapurthala.

6. Kapurthala Halwai Association, Kapurthala.

7. Kapurthala Bakery Association, Kapurthala.

There are no Consumers’ Association in the district.

Market Intelligence:

In the district, there is no such regular agency for the collection and dissemination of market news. Therefore, the people in general visit the market centres periodically to keep in touch with the market affairs. The market news is disseminated to the public through handbills, posters, calendars, circular letter, newspapers, magazines, window displays etc. Often, the market news is communicated to the public by the village traders who are in constant touch with the market conditions. In the regulated markets, the market news are displayed on a board for the public to know the market fluctuations. These news are also communicated to the dealers at different places by the market committees through correspondence and trunk calls. A few good market committees also send daily information cards to the Sarpanches of the villages covered by them. The allied societies. Besides, All India Radio, Jaladhar, daily broadcasts market news.

(f) Weights and Measures

Before the passage of the Punjab Weights and Measures Act in 1941, there was no uniform standard of weights and measures in the State. Although this Act brought uniformity in the system of weights and measures, it was not a remarkable success in achieving the desired objective. However, this system continued till 1956 when the Government of India enacted the standards of Weights and Measures Act.

The weights and measures used in the district right from the early days of British rule till the introduction of the system of decimal weights in 1958 were as under :

(a) In urban areas: Maund (40 seer), 20 seer, 10 seer, 5

seer, 2 seer, 1 seer

Tolas, Mashas, Rattis

(b) In rural areas: 2½ Maund (kutcha) 1 Maund 1¼ Maund (Kutcha) 20 seer 1 Maund (Kutcha) 16 seer 1 Dhari (10 seer Kutcha) 4 seer 1 Panjseri (5 seer Kutcha) 2 seer

2½ seer (Kutcha) 1 seer

Thus, the standard maund of 40 seer or 82.27 pounds was known in the district as a man pakka, for the agriculturists used a different standard of weight. Their maund, or kutcha man equaled 16 seers pakka, instead of 40, but it contained 40 kutcha seers like the standard measure. The following was the standard scale:-

8 chawals 1 ratti

8 rattis 1 masha

12 mashas 1 tola

5 tolas 1 chhitank

16 chhitanks 1 seer

The local seer was two-fifths of the standard seer.

These old weights and measures, however, differed from place to place and also some time for each commodity at the same place. In order to avoid the confusion resulting from such a state of affairs and to bring about a uniform system for the whole country, the Government of India enacted Standards of Weights and Measures Act in 1956. This Act laid down the basic units under the metric system which derive its nomenclature from the primary unit of measurement, the meter. The various unit values are set in decimal proportions.

In accordance with the provisions of Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956, passed the Parliament, the metric system of weights and measures was introduced with effect from October 1958. In case of weights, the use of old weights was allowed for a period of two years which was discontinued from October 1960 when the use of metric weights was made compulsory. In case of measures, one-year-period was allowed for the use of measures previously prevalent. Metric measures were thus made compulsory from April 1962. The use of metric units also became obligatory from April 1962.

In pursuance of the above Acts of the Government of India, the metric system of weights and measures was introduced in the district from 1 April 1962. Initially, difficulties were experienced by both the consumers and traders, but after regular application and propaganda through distribution of conversion tables, charts and pamphlets, the system is now easily understood by the people. Although all the transactions in the district, wholesale as well as retail, are done in the new units, yet petty sales activities in food grains, vegetables, milk etc. are, however, still bound to take places per the old units in some of the villages. For instance, the words, dhari (10 seer kutcha), panjseri (5 seer kutcha) and batti (2 seer kutcha) are sometimes used in respect of weights, in some of the villages in the district. Similarly, there is local measuring-unit for liquids, especially milk, viz., garvi which weights one kilogram.

The Inspector, Weights and Measures, verifies weights, scales, etc. used in the district for trade purposes.

(g) Storage and Warehousing

Prior to the enactment of the Central law called the Agricultural Produce (Development of Warehouses) Corporation Act, 1956, the agriculturists were not provided with any facilities with regard to the scientific storage of their produce.

The agriculturists stored their produce in bharolas or backrooms or in the open or in the bags. This affected the stored stuffs the houses in the villages were scarcely cemented. Although this system still prevails in certain villages, it is on the decline. The metal storage bins are now used for storing the produce.

Under the Act, Warehousing Corporations were established in each State. The Punjab Warehousing Corporation, which was constituted by the State Government on 2 January 1958, opened its warehouse branch in the district at Kapurthala in 1962. As on 30 June 1982, the Corporation was running four centres in the district at Kapurthala, Phagwara, Sultanpur Lodhi and Dhilwan with a total capacity of 24,965 metric tons. The total number of godowns maintained by the Corporation in the district, as on 30 June 1982, was 41.

The Corporation provides for the scientific storage of agricultural produce in the warehouse. The scheduled Banks make advances to depositors on the pledge of the warehouse receipts, according to the credit restrictions of the Reserve Bank of India. Furthermore, the Corporation also undertakes the fumigation of stocks under the Technical Advisory Scheme on the payment of the fumigation charges.

The Corporation also supplies on hire empty gunny bags on very no minal charges to the growers to enable them to store in the warehouses their produce brought in bulk from their villages. The best available godowns are selected from the existing accommodation available at the mandis and are made ideal after applying scientific methods. These godowns are made rat-proof and insect-free. Rat-holes are closed after cynogassing and the godowns are disinfected by spraying them. Besides, godowns and stocks are insured against theft, flood, fire and burglary.

The Corporation accepts for storage even the stocks where infestation has started. Such stocks, immediately after acceptance, are disinfected and made free from living infestation, stopping thereby their further deterioration to the benefit of both the individual depositor as well as to the country at large.

The storage charges of warehouses have been kept as low as possible to cover the actual expenses incurred, because the scheme is designed to run on no-profit-no-loss basis.

For the storage of perishable commodities like vegetables and fruits, cold storages are being set up. The cold storages help in increasing the life of perishable goods and thus help the producers in getting the remunerative price and the consumer in getting those perishable goods for longer time. In the Kapurthala District, a number of cold storages are being run in the private sector.

Appendix I

Number of Banking Offices in the Kapurthala District, as on last Friday of June 1980

State Bank of India 1

State Bank of Patiala 4

Punjab National Bank 11

Other Commercial Banks 40

Co-operative Banks 20

Total 78

(Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1982, p. 555)

APPENDIX III

Work done by the Co-operative Agricultural Credit Societies in the Kapurthala District, 1976-77 to 1981-82

Co-operative year ending June	No. of Co-operative Societies at the end of the year	Membership		Share Capital paid up (Rs. in lakhs)	Loans advanced during the year (Rs. in lakhs)	Deposits (Rs. in lakhs)
		Socie-ties	Individuals
1976-77	346	-	57,859	62.53	263.20	140.26
1977-78	346	-	58,551	67.25	279.03	153.56
1978-79	163	-	61,419	88.75	336.95	160.29
1979-80	168	-	62,319	116.46	650.41	163.10
1980-81	142	-	62,958	133.03	767.87	167.15
1981-82	140	-	64,919	155.31	1,186.17	192.05

(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala).

APPENDIX III

Work done by the Co-operative Non-Agricultural Credit Societies in the Kapurthala District, 1976-77 to 1981-82

Co-operative year ending June	No. of Co-operative Societies at the end of the year	Membership		Share Capital paid up (Rs. in lakhs)	Loans advanced during the year (Rs. in lakhs)	Deposits (Rs. in lakhs)
		Socie-ties	Individuals
1976-77	43	-	7,983	3.82	9.39	5.49
1977-78	43	-	8,116	4.91	10.96	5.54
1978-79	43	-	8,326	4.67	10.41	6.88
1979-80	44	-	8,839	5.08	12.88	8.58
1980-81	44	-	9,917	5,65	17.12	13.98
1981-82	44	-	10,143	5.98	20.63	15.71

(Source: Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala )

APPENDIX IV

Work done by the Co-operative Marketing Societies in the Kapurthala District, 1976-77 to 1981-82

Co-operative year ending June	No. of Societies	Membership			Share Capital paid up (Rs. in lakhs)	Working Capital (Rs. in lakhs)	Value of goods marketed (Rs. in lakhs)
		Socie-ties	Indivi- duals	Total
1976-77	9	242	1,430	1,672	6.60	87.10	260.40
1977-78	9	267	1,413	1,680	6.70	88.20	271.20
1978-79	9	242	1,419	1,661	6.90	88.56	263.39
1979-80	9	242	1,444	1,686	6.86	88.56	134.40
1980-81	9	242	1,458	1,700	6.79	83.03	140.72
1981-82	9	242	1,461	1,703	6.70	83.03	149.42

(Source: Assistance Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Kapurthala )

CHAPTER VII

COMMUNICATIONS

v Old-time Trade Routes and Highways and Modes of Conveyance

v Road Transport

v Railways

v Waterways Ferries and Bridges

v Air Transport

v Travel and Tourist Facilities

v Posts Telegraphs and Telephones

v Organizations of Owners and Employees in the field of Transport and Communications

(a) Old-time Trade Routes and Highways and Modes of Conveyance

The economy of a nation and standard of its civilization depend, to a large extent, on its efficient means of communications. Road are essential for the rapid development of agricultural and industrial economy of a region. A number of references in Indian history bear the testimony to the construction and development of roads in the past. Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Muhammad Tughlaq and especially Sher Shah Suri are known for the construction, maintenance and development of roads. The oldest road is the Grand Trunk Road constructed by Sher Shah Suri—which runs through the Kapurthala district.

In the days gone by, the modes of conveyances were not advanced . Domesticated animals were used not only for undertaking long distance journeys, but also for transportation purposes. Besides, bullock carts and tongas were used by the people to travel from one place to another. With the development of rail and road transport, especially after the Independence, the people gradually started replacing the old means of transport by the modern ones. In recent years the people even in the rural areas have started using modern means of transport.

(b) Road Transport

Road transport has an important role to play in the economy of the country. In the beginning of the twentieth century, the total length of metalled roads maintained by the Kapurthala State was about 40 km and of unmetalled roads about 56 km. After the Independence, there has been remarkable increase in road construction. Presently, the principal metalled roads in the district are: Sher Shah Suri Marg (Grand Trunk Road), Kapurthala-Jalandhar road, Kapurthala-Sultanpur Lodhi-Zira road, Kapurthala-Nadala-Tanda road, Kapurthala-Nakodar road, Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road, Sultanpur Lodhi-Nakodar road, Phagwara-Nakodar road, Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road and Phagwara-Nawanshahr road.

Since the Independence, there has been noteworthy expansion in road construction in the district as the following figures shows: -

Year	Metalled roads (km)	Unmetalled roads (km)	Total length of roads (km)
1950-51	155	3	158
1955-56	166	26	192
1960-61	229	27	256
1975-76	905	-	905*
1981-82	1,135	-	1,135*

*These figures exclude local bodies roads.

(i) Classification of Roads

The roads in the district may be broadly classified into national highways; provincial highways including state highways, district major roads, other district roads (including village approach roads) and local bodies roads. As in 1981-82, out of their total length of 1,135 km in the district, the length of national highways was about 34 km, provincial highways including district major roads and other district roads (including village approach roads) was 1,101 km. The national highways and the provincial highways are maintained by the Public Works Department (B&R). The local bodies roads are maintained by their respective municipalities out of their funds.

A detailed description of each category of roads in the district is given below :

National Highways:

These are defined as the main highways which traverse several States and serve as inter-State links and are of national, strategic and administrative importance. The national highways are metalled roads and are maintained by the State Public Works Department out of the funds made available to the States by the Central Government. About 34 km of the Sher Shah Suri Marg (Grand Trunk Road) lie in the district.

State Highways:

These are the other trunk or arterial roads of the State that function as major inter-State or inter-city linis and serve as feeder to the national highways. These are constructed and maintained by the State Government. There are no State Highways in the Kapurthala District,

District Major roads:

Next below in individual traffic capacity are district major roads, which serve areas of production and markets, connecting these with one another or with high ways or railways. Their total length in the district, as on 31 March 1982 was 147 km.

Other District Roads:

These serve as important arteries of communications among the different parts of the district. These roads include also those roads which formerly fell under heads ‘district minor roads’ and ‘village approach roads’ as the use of these terms has since been discontinued. Their total length in the district, as on 31` March 1982 was 954 km.

(ii) Vehicles and Conveyance

Though motor vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, the bullock carts still hold the sway in the countryside both for conveyance and carriage of goods. they are highly suited to the rugged countryside where sophisticated modern vehicles cannot ply. An improvement introduced in their structure in the recent past has been the use of pneumatic tyres in place of traditional wooden wheels.

Pack animals like donkeys, mules, camels, etc. are also used for transportation of foodgrains, vegetables etc. in the towns. Rehris drawn by one or two persons in front and sometimes pushed from behind by another are used to carry raw materials, cloth, bricks, wood and other goods short distances. The quick means of conveyances now used are buses, cars, jeeps, trucks, taxis, motor-cycles, scooters and tempos. Tractors meant basically for agriculture have now become a popular means of transport with the well-to-do farmers.

Automobiles:

The increase in the use of motor vehicles is also a marked feature of the post-independence period. Not only are cars, jeeps and buses being used in an increasing number but the trucks and other public carriers are also in great demand for transportation of goods. The number of different types of motor vehicles registrered in the district, during 1977 to 1981—82 is given in Appendix India at the end of the chapter, on page 154.

Bicycles:

Bicycles are used as extensively in villages as in towns. Being a cheap and convenient means of transport, these have become very common. Milk vendors use bicycles to bring milk to towns from nearby villages.

Cycle-Rickshaws:

Introduced after the partition of the country in 1947, the cycle-rickshaw has become quite popular. It is a cheap, convenient and easy type of transport. Due to the popularity of this vehicle, the importance of tongas and ekkas has decreased. The development of roads has also increased the mobility of cycle-rickshaws from the towns to the adjoining villages and vice versa.

Loans are advanced by the commercial banks to the rickshaw-pullers for the purchase of rickshaws at nominal rates of interest. Under the Punjab Cycle Rickshaw (Regulation of License) Act, 1976, licences are issued to the owners only.

Horse Carriages:

A remarkable feature of transport in the post-independence period has been a rapid decline in the use of horse carriages like tongas and ekkas. This is primarily due to the emergence of the cycle-rickshaws, which are cheaper and easier to maintain. Besides, the fast growing popularity of tempos in another cause for the rapid decline in the use of horse carriages.

(iii) Public and Private Transport

The Transport Department was under the control of the Provincial Transport Controller prior to June 1969, when it was bifurcated into two wings, viz. Commercial Wing and Non-Commercial Wing. The former, known as Punjab Roadways, was placed under the charge of the Director, State Transport, Punjab, and the latter under the State Transport Commissioner, Punjab. The Director, State Transport, being the overall incharge of Commercial Wing, is concerned with the operation of State Transport buses on commercial basis, whereas the State Transport Commissioner is concerned with the issuing of route permits and the enforcement of Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed there under.

The Government has brought about significant improvements in the transport system. It has evolved an integrated transport plan which is an essential presumption-requisite for balanced growth of different sectors of the economy. The Commercial Wing provides comfortable and well co-ordinated transport facilities to the traveling public. New bus service links have been introduced.

State Owned Services:

Most of the bus routes in the district are operated by the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation, Kapurthala Depot, set up in November 1971. The details of these are given in Appendix II at the end of the Chapter on pages 155 to 158.

Private Bus Services:

A number of bus routes in the district are also operated by different private transport companies. The particulars regarding the names of the private companies and the routes operated by them are given in Appendix III, at the end of the Chapter on pages 159 to 160.

Goods Transport by road:

Goods traffic is handled by private owners. They have formed unions to look after their interests. Besides, transport companies have opened their offices at various places in the district. The following are the only two goods transport companies registered in the district:

1. Associated Traders, Kapurthala

2. Patiala Goods Transport Company, Kapurthala

(c) Railways

Kapurthala District lies in the Firozepur Division of the Northern Railway. There are 11 Railway stations in the district. The main line is Amritsar—Saharanpur—Mughal Sarai, which was opened in 1869-70. It is double line, which serves the Kapurthala and Phagwara tehsils. The stations located on it in the district are : Dhilwan, Ramidi (Halt), Hamira, Chiheru and Phagwara. The other important line which serves the district is Firozpur Cantonment—Jalandhar City branch line. It was opened in 1912. The stations falling on it in the district are : Sultanpur Lodhi, Dudwindi, Pajian, Husainpur Kapurthala and Khojewala.

Rail-road Competition:

Before the introduction of the motor transport in the beginning of the twentieth century, the railways enjoyed full monopoly in long-distance traffic. But the introduction of motor-vehicles gave rise to rail-road competition. The railways began to lose financially owning to the development of the motor transport after 1920 and especially during the period of the world-wide trade, depression. The Government of India appointed in 1933 the Mitchell-Kirkness Committee to study the problems and make suggestions. the committee recommended a strict regulation of road traffic to eliminate competition. In 1937, the Wedgewood Committee also recommended the protection of railways against unfair competition of roads by controlling, supervising, regulating and licensing of the motor transport. During he World War II (1939—45), there was practically no rail-road competition. But after the War ended, the fear of rail-road competition aroused again. In 1950, the Government appointed the Motor Vehicles Taxation Inquiry Commission. Consequently, the rail-road competition was reduced due to the heavy taxation imposed on road vehicles. However, with the vast development of agriculture and industry in the country and the consequent increase in traffic, the rail-road competition has become a thing of the past and the two systems of transport have become complementary rather than competitive.

(d) Waterways, Ferries and Bridges

There is no navigable river/canal within 10 km of any town in the district.

Ferries:

The ferry system is very useful for the people residing in bet areas to have their journeys to the adjoining places and transport their necessaries of life from one side of the river to the other.

Bridges:

Bridges are constructed over the rivers, streams, etc. for smooth running of road traffic.

(e) Air Transport

There is no aerodrome in the Kapurthala District.

(f) Travel and Tourist Facilities

The Punjab Government is making efforts to develop tourist facilities at the existing places with a view to ensuring that the availing potential for the growth of tourist industry in fully exploited. Consequently, new spots for tourist attraction are being developed and touring facilities at the existing places are being increased. In the district, there is a tourist resort on the bank of Black (kali) Bein at Kanjli, which is about 5 km from Kapurthala. Hundreds of visitors throng this picnic spot on week-ends.

Dharmshalas, serais and hotels are easily available in the district for tourists, visitors, etc. Besides, there are rest houses for the use of Government officers/officials.

Rest Houses:

These are maintained by the different Government departments for the use of their employees while touring the district in the course of their duties. A list of rest houses in the district is given in Appendix IV at the end of this Chapter, on pages 161.

(g) Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones

Posts:

The district has a fairly large number of post offices which are under the control of the Superintendent, Post Offices, Kapurthala Division, Kapurthala. According to the 1971 Census, Phagwara Tehsil had the highest number of post offices, i.e. 8.84 per 100 sq. km. The corresponding figures for the district and the State were only 5.52 and 5.96 respectively.

On 31 March 1982, there were 2 Head Post Offices, 61 Sub-Post Offices (including 7 LSG offices), 226 Branch Post Offices and 2 Extra Departmental Sub-Offices in the Kapurthala Division. A list of these is given in Appendix V, at the end of this Chapter, on pages 162 to 169.

All the villages of the Kapurthala District are covered under daily delivery.

Telegraphs:

The district is also served by a good number of combined post and telegraph offices. There are 3 key fitted sub-offices and 1 phone-cum-sub-office in the district. There is a prompt delivery of telegrams in the district. Telegrams are also accepted round the clock from the people. On 31 March 1982, telegraph facility was available in the post office in the Kapurthala District, as given in Appendix V, at the end of this chapter, on page 162 to 169.

Telephones:

There are nine telephone exchanges in the district functioning at Kapurthala, Begowal, Kala Sanghian, Sultanpur Lodhi, Talwandi Chaudhrian, Nadala, Tampur, Bholath and Phagwara. Kapurthala telephone exchange is under the control of the District Manager, Telephones Jalandhar, while the remaining exchanges are under the charge of the District Engineer, Telephones, Jalandhar, while the remaining exchanges are under the charge of the District Engineer, Telephones, Jalandhar. The total number of working connections provided by these exchanges, on 31 March 1982, was 2,717. Besides, there is one long distance public call office at Palara with parent exchange at Kapurthala.

Radios and Televisions:

These have become very popular in the district. As on 31 December 1981 as many as 43,351 radio and 11,062 television licences were issued. Besides, 375 radio sets and 10 television sets were installed in the district under Community Listening Scheme up to November 1982.

(h) Organizations of Owners and Employees in the Field of Transport and Communications

There is no organization of owners in the field of transport and communications in the district. Transport workers/employees working in various transport companies have, however, formed their unions to look after their service interests. The employees’ unions in the field of transport and communications functioning in the district, as on 31 March 1982 are given below :

Serial No.	Name of the union	Date of registration
1	District Motor Transport Workers’ Union, Kapurthala	9.1.1957
2	Kapurthala Transport Workers’ Union, Kapurthala	28.2.1975
3	Punjab Rickshaw Drivers’ Union, Phagwara	9.9.1981
4	The Truck Operators’ Union Kapurthala	22.5.1981

APPENDIX I

Number of Different Types of Motor Vehicles Registered in the Kapurthala District, 1977 to 1981

Year	Four wheelers and above (goods vehicles)	Three wheelers	Buses	Cars	Taxis	Jeeps	Two wheelers	Tractors
1977	45	4	3	54	-	6	756	229
1978	57	7	9	37	-	5	670	485
1979	64	10	9	40	-	8	778	752
1980	59	13	7	42	2	8	1,557	999
1981	92	66	5	106	2	35	1,897	1,396

(Source; District Transport Officer, Kapurthala )

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