(g)
Large-Scale Industries
1. Woollen Manufactures. These may be described under three
different heads, viz., wool spinning, woolen textile and woolen hosiery.
(i) Wool Spinning. The worsted, shoddy and indigenous woolen
yarns are the most important basic raw materials for woolen textile and hosiery,
which are manufactured on a large scale in the district. Prior to 1949, the supplies of yarn had to
be obtained altogether from the spinning mills outside the State, which were
situated in Calcutta and Bombay, except the one at Kharar. This created practical difficulties for the
hosiery manufacturers as the supplies from the spinning mills were irregular,
particularly during the season when the stocks invariably ran short and the
prices rose to unjustified levels.
Quite often it was not possible for the industrialists to get the yarn
of requisite count and quality at the appropriate time. This naturally prompted some of the more
enterprising and bigger units to install spinning plants within the city itself.
The first worsted wool spinning mill
was established at Ludhiana in 1949. It
gave impetus to several others with the result that by 1956 the number rose to
six. In 1965-66 nineteen textile mills
in the large-scale sector were engaged in the spinning of worsted yarn and
manufacturing woolen textiles. The
total number of authorised spindles installed with these units was 23,526. Powerlooms numbered 159 and handlooms
316. Their investment in this industry
amounted to Rs 472 lakhs and provided employment to 3,160 workers. The capacity is partially utilised due to
limited import of wool tops. Shoody and
indigenous wools are also now being used as raw materials. The production during 1965-66 was valued at
Rs 424.27 lakhs. Besides these, there
exist 14 small-scale unauthorized spinning mills.
These units work throughout the year
and engaged in the production of hosiery yarn, knitting yarn and yearn required
for woolen textiles. Previously, the
yarn was produced only from wool tops imported from abroad. But, due to the limited supply of wool tops
and import restrictions thereon, indigenous wool is also now being used for
spinning yarn. Even imported shoddy
wool is being used for course woolen textiles and hosiery.
A big Government undertaking on
co-operative basis for combing, viz., All- India Wool Combers Co-operative
Society, Ltd., has been set up at Dhandari Kalan, a few miles from Ludhiana13.
(ii) Woollen Textile. Woollen Textile industry was started in
the district in 1949. At Ludhiana, 14
big and 6 small units are engaged in the manufacture of woolen textiles, viz.,
worsted cloth, woolen cloth, tweeds and blankets. The industry has a bright future. Its products are also exported to Hongkong and Afghanistan. Worsted, woolen and shoddy yarn constitute
the raw material.
About Rs. 5 crores are believed to
have been invested in the industry.
(iii) Woollen Hosiery. It item has been dealt with in detail in
subsequent pages.
2. Cycles and Cycle-Parts. - In the industrial boom which occurred in the
wake of independence, manufacture of cycles and cycle-parts is by far the most
important of the industries developed in the district. Although the industry has shown phenomenal
development in the post-independence period, its beginnings can be traced as
far back as 1936, or even earlier, when certain repair shops took up the
manufacture of accessories like stands, carriers and axles as spares. Reduced imports from abroad during the
course of the World War II (1939-45) provided an opportunity for the industry
to grow both in volume and diversity.
The next phase of expansion came in 1957, when the Government of India
restricted the imports and fixed assemblage quota of full cycles as between
small-scale units and large scale establishments. Manufacture of cycle-parts and assembling of complete cycles is
now a leading engineering trade in Ludhiana though some units also exist in
other towns of the district, such as Jagraon.
13. The All India combers Co-operative Society,
Ltd., Dhandari Kalan, was registered on January 31, 1961, mainly to establish a
Wool Combing Plant in the co-operative sector.
The promoters of the scheme included the spinners, hosiery
manufacturers, weavers and workers, etc.
As a result of the Chinese aggression in 1962, the State Government
decided to contribute to the share capital of the society on matching basis, in
order to accelerate the pace of the project, which had assumed great importance
as a defence oriented industry. The
total membership of the society as on March 31, 1966, was 451, which included
most of the big industrialists of Ludhiana and Amritsar, connected with the
woollen industry.
The
subscribed capital of the society as on March 31, 1966, was Rs 11,98,200 out of
which a sum of Rs 9,44,670 was fully paid.
The
Society has constructed the administrative block and the factory building and
imported a part of the machinery (Nobel Combs) from U.K. It has also been granted an important
licence for the import of the requisite machinery for the working of the Noble
Combs from Japan. The capacity of the
Noble Combs is about 1.2 million Ibs. wool tops annum, on two shift basis.
The various items of raw materials and components
required by the industry are : Free Cutting Steel, Steel of various types,
Steel pipes, M.S. Sheets (10 to 24 gauges) M.S. Strips, M.S. rounds and bars,
M.S.wires and seamless tubes, etc. The
other anciliaries are tyres, brake rubber, pedal rubber, oils component parts
like chains, rims, BB. Shells, steel balls, etc., and consumable stores, such
as nickle anodes, copper electroplating and mopping materials, coal, paints,
etc. Steel balls land rims are imported
from other States. With the exception
of cold roller sheets and seamless welding tubes, all other verities of iron
and steel are produced in India.
Labour required for the industry,
both skilled and unskilled, is available locally. It has been one of the main reasons for the localization of the
industry at Ludhiana. The Ramgarhia
community, who are born technicians and possess a mechanical bent of mind, have
a natural aptitude for engineering industries.
Over the years the workers have become specialised in their particular
fields.
The Government Testing and Finishing
Centre, Ludhiana, renders cheap services in heat-treatment, electroplating,
enamellings and testing to the industry.
The Small Industries Service Institute set up by the Government of India
at Ludhiana, is also playing an important role in disseminating the use of
latest methods of producing various parts, up-to-date machinery, etc.
It is estimated that in 1947 the
district had 25 units in the line,
producing goods worth about Rs. 10 lakhs.
In 1966-67, there were 558 small-scale units manufacturing cycle parts
besides 9 small-scale units manufacturing cycle parts besides 9 small-scale and
2 large-scale units assembling complete bicycles. The industry provided employment to over 6,000 persons during the
year amounted to Rs. 896 lakhs. Cycles
and cycle-parts manufacturing units are also having a good demand of their
products in the foreign markets, especially from the Middle East countries14.
14. Goods worth Rs. 15.45 lakhs were exported
to foreign countries during 1965-66. A
notable feature of the Industry during the year was that a Ludhiana firm in the
large scale sector gave collaboration to the Ceylon Government for establishing
cycle manufacturing units there.
3. Sewing-Machines and Parts. The manufacture of
sewing-machine parts and assembling of sewing-machines is another important
industry of the district. Its origin in
the Punjab can be traced back to 1925, when a unit took up the manufacture of
sewing-machine components at Bassi Pathanan (district Patiala). These components were initially manufactured
in the crude manner and no crude and self-improvised machinery, and were mainly
supplied to certain repair shops for replacements, etc. The industry greatly developed greatly
developed during the World War II (1939-45) when, on the inevitable stoppage of
imports, acute shortage of sewing-machine parts was felt. People had to pay high prices for sewing-machine parts needed for replacement in
the imported sewing-machine. The
situation induced some people to start manufacture of these parts. The requisite equipment and machine-tools
for the manufacture of the parts were not available; but the enterprising
spirit of the people overcame the difficulties. It was not long before the industry was centralized in Ludhiana,
which had all the needed skill and favorable circumstances for the development
of a small-scale industry of this kind.
The industry made good progress because the indigenous parts were much
cheaper as compared to the imported ones.
The quality of the locally made parts also improved steadily.
On the partition displaced person as had their own workshops for the
manufacture of sewing machine parts in Lahore and other places in West
Pakistan ,resumed this activity in a
small way at Ludhiana. In 1953,only eleven spare-parts were allowed to be
imported .The industry progressed very much as there was shortage of sewing machines since World War 11. In
1964, Government imposed further restriction on the import of spare-parts.
Nearly Rs.25 lakhs are invested in 3
factories in the Large-scale and Rs.2 lakhs in 325 factories in the small-scale
sectors. At present out of the total of 106 spare-parts required for assembling
a sewing-machine, 100 spare parts are manufactured locally and the rest are
imported from other district /States. In 1966-67,there were 4 large-scale and
18 small-scale assembling units, and 1 large scale and 194 small scale units
manufacturing sewing-machine parts. The total
production during the year was 63,723 machines valued at Rs. 81 lakhs.
The exports during the same year valued at Rs.6 lakhs.
The principal raw materials required
for the manufacture of sewing machines and parts are steels of various kinds,
casting, oil and nickel and chrome salt nickel, anodes, peerless polish, coal,
etc.
4. Steel Re-rolling,- This industry was started in the
district about the year 1940 when two concerns were established . In 1956
,there were 3 re-rolling mills-two at Ludhiana and one at Khanna. In the large
scale sector, one unit went in to production during 1965-66 and produced goods
worth Rs. 13.84 lakhs. In the small scale sector, the number of units increased
from 3 in 1964-65 to 12 in 1965-66 with production valued at Rs.3.79 lakhs.
In 1966-67 there were 12 units in
Ludhiana, 3 in large-scale and 9 in small-scale sector and 1 in large scale
sector in Khanna and 2 in small scale sector. About Rs. 25lakhswere invested in
the industry. The annual outturn was worth about Rs. 10 lakhs.
Round, square and flat bars, hoops
and strip angles are manufactured. These products are used in cycle, automobile
and building industries.
The raw material includes scrap iron
and billets and steam coal.
5. Machine-Tools.- Till 1947,
Ludhiana could hardly boast of any well-developed small machine tool industry.
In 1947 ,there was one such unit in Ludhiana with a complement of 30 workers
and an estimated production of Rs.0.5 lakhs. The number of units rose to 9 in
1951,39 in 1955,44 in 1956 and 255 small-scale and 4 large-scale in 1966-67.
The estimated production in 1966-67 was valued at Rs.291 lakhs, providing
employment to 3,809 workers. Goods worth Rs.3 lakhs were exported. During the
following two decades, the concentration of various industries and the
availability of skilled labour have been the city a centre for the manufacture
of various machine-tools like lathes,
drilling-machines, milling-machines, planners, shapers, presses drills,
grinders, hacksaw, power-presses, slotting-machines, circular saws,
wood-working lathes, band sawing-machines, small tools with accessories for
different machine tools, etc. The raw materials used are iron, steel and hard
coke.
6 Automobile Parts - The Automobile (chassis and suspension) industry is also gaining
importance in the district. Its origin can be traced to the World War II
(1939-45) when nuts and bolts began to the locally. As time passed, the number
of items manufactured increased. The real start of the industry was made after
the partition when some local Ramgarhias took it up as comparatively more
profitable of the engineering industries.
About Rs. 1.25 crores are invested
in the industry: 150 registered units and 100 unregistered units are in the
field and all are located at Ludhiana. Out of these, one unit is in the
large-scale sector.
The major items manufactured in
respect of chassis and suspension comprise: hub bolts, U bolts, centre bolts,
spring leaves, hangar shackle, engine pullies, hubs and hub-drums, king pin and
spring pins. The industry has shown rapid development. In 1956, there were 30
units engaged in it at Ludhiana. In 1965-66, there was I large-scale unit and
148 small-scale units, providing employment to 1,826 workers. The production during the year was of the value
of Rs. 19.08 lakhs and Rs. 112 lakhs in the large and small-scale sectors,
respectively.
The main raw materials are iron and steel,
pig iron, gun metal, constructional alloy steel, etc.
7. Diesel-Oil Engine and Parts.- The origin of the industry in
the district can be traced to impetus of World War II when in 1941-42 Ludhiana
entered the field. To begin with, small spare-parts needed for the repair of
diesel engines were manufacture of major spare-parts was also started from
1945-46. Complete diesel engines came to be manufactured form 1948 onwards. In
1966-67 there were 10 units with annual production of Rs. 17 lakhs.
8. Scooters.- One unit is engaged in the production of scooters
at Ludhiana since 1962. It is working in collaboration with a Japanese motor
company in respect of technical know-how. About Rs. 8 lakhs have been invested
in the industry. In the beginning, the yearly out-turn was 1,500 sectors. But,
due to certain technical difficulties, the production was reduced to 800 to
1,000 in 1965. In 1967-68, however, the production was raised to 7,500
scooters.
9. Hosiery Needles.- The
industry was started for the first time in the country in 1960 when a unit was
established at Ludhiana with Japanese technical Know-how. From 1962-63, an
automatic plant has been installed. About twenty types of needles, used in
knitting machines, are manufactured. The industry faces competition from
Chandigarh. Its annual production in 1966-67 was of the vale of Rs. 2,10 lakhs.
The raw materials comprise high
carbon strips and wire, both of which are imported from Japan.
10. Card Clothing15.- There is only one unit at Ludhiana
engaged in card clothing since 1960, with a capital investment of about Rs. 10
lakhs. Its yearly out-turn is about Rs.
20 lakhs. Card clothing is Key industries for all textile mills. It provides
employment to some 45 persons.
The raw materials for the card
clothing are foundation cloth, steel wire and end clips and plates (imported
from Japan and Belgium).
Stepping fillets-a kind of hard
brush for clearing and clothing-are also manufactured.
11. Nylon and Staple Spinning.-
Only one unit is engaged in the production of nylon in the district
at Ludhiana. It started production in April, 1964.
The yearly output is worth about Rs.
7 lakhs.
12. Gas (Oxygen).- The
production of oxygen gas, used for welding purposes as well as in hospitals,
started in the district towards the end of the year 1963, when the first
factory was established at Ludhiana. The gas was thus made available at the
place at comparatively cheap rates. Another concern also came up by the end of
1964. Rs. 18 lakhs have been invested in the industry. Previously the Ludhiana
industry had to face difficulty in getting the materials from Delhi.
The total capacity of both the units
is 163 cubic metres per hours. The annual production in 1966-67 was worth Rs.
9.30 lakhs.
13. Measuring Tapes.-The industry was started at Ludhiana in 1950
by the only concern which has since greatly expanded and is single largest tape
producing unit in Asia. The technical know-how is indigenous. The installed
machinery valued at Rs. 10 lakhs is both imported and improvised. Local made
machines and parts have also been adapted for the purpose. Earlier only
metallic woven measuring tapes were produced, but now glass fibre tapes, steel
tapes and steel rules are also manufactured. There has been a remarkable
improvement in the get-up of the tape in regard to shape and final finish.
Besides there are 4 units in the
small-scale sector. The annual production of industry in 1977-67 was worth Rs.
23 lakhs.
The industry meets the entire home
demand, which was previously met through imports. The tapes are also exported
to Middle East, South-East Asian countries and U.K. etc. The industry is thus a
great foreign exchange earner.
15.
It is a type of steel wire brush spread on 2 wide foundation cloth. This is used
in cylinder, doffer and tops used in
cotton and woolen textiles. This issued for carding in Cotton and Woolen
Textile Mills. The special type of Brush is fitted I a cylinder in the doffer
and tops machines. It functions as a spiral and spiral the material into fine
fibres as a result of rotation.
14. Flour Mills.- There are 2
roller flour mills at Ludhiana in the large scale sector. These produce flour, maida,
suji, dal, chokar, etc. One of these was started in 1931 and the other in
1937. The mills have a total capacity of grinding 6,400 tons of wheat per
month, but, due to shortage of food-grains, these are required to grind only
imported wheat.
15. Hosiery.- Ludhiana has been accepted as the home of
hosiery industry, which has been established there for over a century. Ludhiana
knitters control almost all markets with in the country and cater for about 90
per cent of the total demand. They have also entered the overseas marked to
which the hosiery products have started flowing for the last about a decade and
a half in ever increasing volume. Within the country, the industry meets the
needs of both the civil population and the requirements of the Defence, Police
and other Government Departments. Ludhiana hosiery products are very popular in
several foreign countries like Ceylon, Burma, Africa, Thailand the Middle East
and the Far East.
The industry races its origin to the
thirties of the 19th century when, as a result of severe famine in Kashmir,
several Kashmiri families left their homes in distress and settled down in
Ludhiana and its environs. With their traditional skill and artistic talent
they soon made the town a centre of knitting socks on wooden or steel rods.
Thus they laid the foundation of a craft, which initially formed a useful
spare-time job for the ladies only, but in course of time developed in to an
important industry through the agency of the local traders who commercialized
the artifact of the womenfolk. They usually knitted topless socks. After some
years the knitting of complete socks was introduced here mainly through the
enterprise of Jullundur girl, who was married to a businessman at Ludhiana. Te
girl had learnt the art from the wives of Gorkha military officials stationed
at Jullundur. Thereafter, the socks and banians of a fines quality began to be
knitted here.
It was near about 1894 that this
primitive organisation of hosiery knitting by the women folk was given up and
machine knitting was introduced at Ludhiana.
This gave the local industry a revolutionary turn. The success of the first hosiery machine
installed at Ludhiana in that year led to a number of firms installing these machines.
During the World War-I (1914-18),
like many other industries, the hosiery industry also received its share of war
boom, and the manufactures who had till then confined their attention to
foot-wear alone, extended their activities to produce woolen sweaters and
pullovers. Soon Ludhiana developed a
brisk trade in this type of goods.
Thus, it emerged as the home of Indian hosiery and was poised for a big
leap forward. The introduction of
Raschel loom from Germany brought about a radical change in the technique of
production. It facilitated cheaper
production on a mass scale.
During the depression following the
World War-I (1914-18) the industry passed through a period of crisis as the
prices of hosiery goods fell by 25 to 30 per cent due to competition from
Japan. The local hosiery manufactures
boldly faced this crisis by reducing the margin of profit and increasing their
efficiency. The then Government of
India also afforded adequate protection to hosiery industry through the Tariff
Amendment Act of 1934, against Japanese dumping, which was further amended in
1936 to cover all braches of the hosiery industry.
The stoppage of imports chiefly from
Japan and the tremendous demand for hosiery good by the Defence Department
during the World War-II (1939-45), helped the industry towards unprecedented
expansion. But, the shortage of yarns
and the scarcity of hosiery machine needles, for which the industry was
dependent upon foreign supplies, did not allow the manufacturers to take full
advantage of the position. To overcome
this difficulty, the yarns and needles were supplied by the purchasing agency
of the defence equipment. In spite of
all these favourable circumstances the condition of the industry during the
period was not satisfactory.
In spite of some major set-backs
during the last 20 years- partition of the country, shortage of foreign
exchange, Chinese aggression, Indo-Pak conflict, credit squeeze,
re-organisation of Punjab, political agitations and the severe recession
through which all the industries are presently passing- the woolen hosiery
industry of Ludhiana has made remarkable progress. With the small hand-driven machines installed in the dark corners
of small houses in the obscure little lanes of Ludhiana, the industry has been
turning out production worth crores of rupees and catering to the entire needs
of the country, both for civil and defence requirements. In 1966-67, there were 2,000 units in the
industry with a total annual installed capacity of about Rs. 25 crores and an
actual production of Rs. 12 crores, and an actual production of Rs. 12 crores,
almost equally divided under three broad sections, viz., (i) Home Market, (ii) Defence requirements, and
(iii) Exports. All the 2,00 units in
the industry are not well-equipped, not more than about 50 per cent, i.e.,
1,000 units, could be termed as effective.
The potentiality of the industry as
a big foreign exchange earner has been realised in recent years. A beginning in the export field was made
about 15 years back when some enterprising industrialists of Ludhiana visited
foreign countries to explore markets for woolen hosiery. Despite tough competition, both in quality
and price, from advanced countries, the industrialists succeeded in procuring
orders in small lots, more or less as trial orders. Till five years back the export of goods had grown around Rs. 50
Lakhs per annum. The big leap in
exports was accomplished four years ago when the East European countries felt
interested in Indian woolen hosiery.
Although still working with out-moded machines, this small-scale
industry has now started exporting woolen hosiery in large quantities. The exports in 1966 were worth 4.55 crores
of rupees and during 1967 these touched Rs. 4 crores. During the last three years, the major buyers were East European
markets. During the last three years,
the major buyers were European markets.
Goods worth about Rs. 50 Lakhs were also sold in the general currency
areas, principally in the Middle East countries. During the current years, the industry has orders in hand worth
Rs. 5 crores, of which about Rs. 3 crores are from East European Markets, and
the remainder from the Middle East and African countries. With successful fulfillment of the orders in
hand, the industry expects to procure contracts for an additional value of at
least Rs. One crore, which will make it possible for the industry to achieve a
target of exports worth Rs. 6 crores in 1968.
The war in the Middle East year has assisted the industry in exploring
new avenues for its products, where from the orders have increased to about Rs.
50 Lakhs two years back. The main
markets for the products of the industry are U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakia, Poland,
Hungary, Bahrein, Burma, Kenya, Kuwait, Aden, Sudan, Libya, Honkong, Zambia,
Tanzania, etc. The industry expects to
touch the annual exports of atleast Rs. 8 crores in the next three years.
16. Power looms. Started a few years before the World War II,
the power loom industry made great strides in the post-Independence
period. It switched on to the
production of staple fabrics as mill made cotton yarn became un-available. The main raw materials for the industry,
viz., staple yarn, art-silk, cotton-yarn of medium counts and woolen yarn, are
produced mostly in other States. Some
finer varieties are imported from abroad.
Mostly the powerlooms are of indigenous
make. The industry includes both
self-sale units and fabricators. Their
number, which was only 50 in 1947, rose to 165 in 1954-55 and to 570 in
1966-67. The total investment in the
industry was estimated at Rs. 75 lakhs in 1947 and Rs. 365 lakhs in 1961.
The total value of the production
was estimated at Rs. 92 lakhs in 1947 and Rs. 430 lakhs in 1961. It rose to Rs. 722.60 lakhs in 1964-65, but
fell to Rs. 497 lakhs in 1966-67.
Most of the powerlooms are working
on staple and art silk yarn. The main
products are tehmats, linen and other varities of staple fabrics, ninon and
shantoon, woolen shawls and corduroy.
The small scale industries sector has
progressively acquired a prominent place in the development activities of the
country. Consequent upon the revision
of the definition of the small-scale industry16, the size and scope
of the small scale industries sector has been considerably widened, thus
enabling a large number of industrial units to avail themselves of increased
assistance and facilities.
The socio-economic significance of
the role of small-scale industries in relation to the economic development of
the country has been more fully realised in the post-independence period. It is reflected in the two Industrial Policy
Resolutions of the Government of India adopted in 1948 and 1956 as well as in
the progressive allocations made for the development of this vital sector in
the Five-Year Plans.
The total number of small scale
units in Ludhiana district during 1965-66 was about 4,200 which rose to over
4,300 during 1966-67. The total
production, which was worth about Rs. 26 crores during 1965-66, also rose to
Rs. 27,50 crores during 12966-67. The
increase in the new units during 1966-67 was the largest in the woolen hosiery
; which rose from 1,887 in 1965-66 to 2,000 in 1966-67. The machine tool industry witnessed an
increase in 11 units from 244 in 1965-66 to 255 in 1966-67. In the field of production the maximum
increase was shown by the hosiery and machine tools sectors. The woolen hosiery production rose from Rs.
7 crores in 1965-66 to Rs. 8 crores in 1966-67 while the machine tools production
registered an increase of Rs. 60 lakhs bringing total production to Rs. 2.5
cores.
17. Agricultural Implements. The incentive given by the
Government for the development of agriculture in general and the selection of
Ludhiana district for intensive agricultural programme in particular has given
good stimulus to the manufacture of agricultural implements at Ludhiana. The industry has also shown good progress.
In 1956 there were 15 units 4 at Ludhiana and 11 at Samrala, engaged in the
manufacture of agricultural implements.
The production during the year was valued at Rs. 1.34 lakhs. In 1966-67, the number of units increased to
68 and produced goods worth Rs. 23.6 lakhs.
18. Dyeing. The dyeing industry made a start almost
simultaneously with the setting up of the textile industry at Ludhiana. It caters to the needs of hosiery,
power-looms and handloom industries.
16. In 1960 the Ministry of Industry,
Government of India, had defined small scale industries as industrial units
with a capital investment of not more
than Rs. 5 lakhs, capital investment
for the purpose of the definition meant investment in fixed assets like land,
buildings, machinery and equipment.
In
view of the changed conditions and, in accordance with the recommendations of
the Small Scale Industries Board, the Ministry of Industry, Government of
India, has further amended the definition of small scale industries as :-
Small Scale Industries will include all
industrial units with a capital investment of not more than Rs. 7.50 lakhs
irrespective of the number of persons employed. Capital investment of this
purpose will mean investment in plant and machinery only.
In
calculating the value of plant and machinery, the original price paid by the
owner, irrespective of whether the plant and machinery, are new or second-hand,
will be taken into account.
Previously, dyeing of wool in the
district was done I\on a very small scale.
The investment of the different units was meager and they were hardly in
a position to install modern equipment.
This position continued up to 1954-55 when there were 46 such
units. In course of time, in addition
to these hundreds of small units, eight bigger units came into existence in
1966-67. With the installation of
modern equipment, the output has considerably improved in quantity and quality.
The units are split into the
following three sectors :-
(i)
units engaged in staple dyeing ;
(ii) units engaged in wool dyeing ; and
(iii) units engaged in wool dyeing for military contractors.
The raw materials for this industry
are dyes- English and Indian, acids, bleaching power, soda ash and wood. Except for wood and acids, all the items are
obtained from other states.
These units more or less work on
fabrication basis and dye yarn of others.
There are different grades of dyeing ; fast to soap, fast to bhattim
etc. Staple yarn dyeing is mostly
indirect, i. e., kachha or fast soap.
Wool dyeing for military contractors is fast to bhatti, whereas for
civil consumption it is kachha or pucca.
Staple dyeing is done mostly for handloom units.
19. Washing and Finishing. Washing and finishing is ancilliary
to textile industry. On the setting up
of textile units at Ludhiana, this industry has developed simultaneously.
In 1956, there were 16 units located
at Ludhiana, out of which two were registered under the Indian Factories
Act. The number of units rose to 3 big
and 20 small in 1965-66.
The machines used by these units
comprise hydro-extractor for squeezing, dry-cleaning plant, tables, brass-press,
wooden or stainless vats for bleaching tubs, etc.
The raw materials required for the
three different processes of the industry are :
|
Wet
washing |
: |
Soap,
Soda and sulphuric acid. |
|
Bleaching |
: |
Sodium
hydro sulphite or potassium permanganate and sodium bisulphate. |
|
Dry
Cleaning |
: |
Petrol
and turpentine oil (for woolen cloth). |
Ludhiana badly needs a dyeing and
finishing plant for hosiery industry. A
plant will be installed at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs. The State Government will purchase shares of Rs. 10 lakhs and the
remaining will be owned by the private sector.
It would increase the export potential of hosiery goods.
20. Calico Printing. The industry developed in Ludhiana
alongside the development of textile industry.
Mill made designed and printed cloth, however, caused a set back to
calico printing. Although it is on the
decline, yet some of the units are catering to the varied needs of the public. The industry is perennial but its peak
season is summer months. In 1956, there
were 12 units functioning in urban areas of the district. The number of units rose to 32 in 1965-66.
The tools consist of wooden blocks
and addas, like tables with small legs and a stove. These are available locally except wooden blocks which are
sometimes got prepared from other places.
The raw materials used are dyes,
gum, acids, caustic soda and fuel, all of which are available locally.
The industry generally works on
fabrication basis for printing chaddars kheses, etc., for the general
public. The charges depend on the
number of colours used.
The calico printing done at Ludhiana
is popular with the public in general and sometimes people prefer to get some
of their requirements printed instead of purchasing mill-made printed goods.
21. Nuts and Bolts. The products of this industry comprise two
main types as under :
(i) Nuts and Bolts (hardware). This industry was started in
1958. One big and two small units are
engaged in the manufacture of nuts and bolts, panel pins, tinmen, rivets,
nails, special type of screws and bolts, etc.
This industry is auxiliary to Government projects and other
industries. Besides, 100 units were in
small scale sector, engaged in the manufacture of miscellaneous types of nuts
and bolts, in 1966-67.
(ii) Nuts and Bolts (patta kabal). _ These comprise three main
types, viz., oval plate belt, original potent plate and button plate, which are
further sub-divided into several types.
The industry originated during the
World War I (1914-18). Taking advantage
of the heavy reduction in imports and the prevailing high prices for these
articles, a number of small units sprang up in and around Ludhiana. The product turned out by these factories
was of somewhat crude type, yet it could find market because of acute scarcity
of this essential component of industrial machinery.
The industry entered a new phase
after the partition in 1947 when it began to expand on a big scale.
In the district, there are 16 units
engaged in the manufacturing of patta-kabla.
Out of these one is in the large-scale category. About Rs. 4 lakhs are invested in the industry. The annual out-turn is Rs. 4 lakhs. The products of large-scale unit are
certified to be of the standard prescribed by the National Physical Laboratory,
Delhi.
The raw materials used are iron,
steel and stainless steel, indigenous as well as imported.
22. Electrical Goods. - The industry was started in 1955 on a small-scale. Initially only starters for electric motors
were manufactured. In course of time,
iron clad switches, of different ranges up to 200 AMPS 500 Volts, began to be
manufactured.
Rs. 10 lakhs have been invested in
the industry. 4o units were engaged in
1966-67 in the manufacture of electrical goods worth Rs. 20.05 lakhs.
At present, the industry is on small
scale. But, with the increasing
electrification of rural areas and the installation of tubewells, it has a
fairly bright chance of entering into the large scale phase.
23. Cotton Ginning and Oilseed Crushing. Khanna was a well
known cotton mandi in the beginning of the present century. Gradually the people of the area switched
over to sowing of groundnut. Before the
installation of oil/ginning mills in Khanna, cotton and groundnut were exported
to other areas. The export entailed a lot of trouble due to unwieldy
volume/bulk of the cotton/groundnut.
The first ginning and oil mill
was established at Khanna in 1905.
It had daily oil capacity of 9 tons and 7,632 bales of ginned cotton.
During the World War II (1939-45) two more oil mills were started in 1939 and
1941. Since 1958 six oil/ginning mills
were opened. Thus by 1967 there were 9
oil mills, out of which 4 were also engaged in cotton ginning. Rs. 78 lakhs were invested in the industry
with the annual out-turn extraction of 3,38,886 quintals of oil and 52,632
ginned cotton bales with daily capacity of 220 tons and 240 bales,
respectively. There are also two cotton
ginning mills of sizable capacity at Jagraon.
Amongst these mills one is a solvent
oil mill at Khanna. It also
manufactures cattle feed, fertilizers and poultry feed from by-products, viz.,
deoiled cake. This unit also manufactures
vegetable oil biscuits. The Mill also
produced soap from certain by-products.
This unit further extracts oil from rice bran.
In the district oilseed-crushing,
flour-milling dal-milling and cotton-ginning is a composite industry. There were 12 units of cotton-ginning and 28
units engaged in oilseeds crushing. The
annual production was 60,000 bales in 1968.
Besides, groundnut, the oilseed industry crushes mustard, cotton seeds,
linseed (alsi), etc. The groundnut-crushing is confined to Khanna. Its by-products are oil-cakes, etc.
24. Surgical Instruments. The manufacture of surgical
instruments at Ludhiana is, like many other industries, a product of the
partition of 1947. The only unit
engaged in the manufacture of surgical instruments at the place was originally
shifted from Sialkot where surgical instruments were manufactured by the
well-known ironsmiths of kotli Loharan, who were the famous manufacturers of
the guns and arms under the Lahore Darbar.
The industry was rehabilitated at Ludhiana through the enterprise of the
dealer, who migrated from West Pakistan.
He was fortunate to find a handful of refugee workers from Sialkot and
readily engaged them in this industry.
The Unit was first established in
1949. Till 1966-67 there were 2 units,
one on very small scale with annual production worth about Rs. 2.5 lakhs. The industry, however, does not admit of
rapid scope of expansion.
Different kinds of surgical
instruments used in government as well as private hospital are
manufactured. These include ophthalmic
instruments, special purpose needless and canulae, electric-medical appliances,
table-lamps (anglepoise type), etc.
Eye-operating instruments are a speciality of one unit throughout the
country. That concern has been approved
by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The industry foreign exchange earner and saver.
The main raw materials required by
the industry are mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, etc.
25. Plastic Goods. The industry developed in the district along
with the cycle industry as it meets the requirements of some plastic cycle
parts. Out of the two units engaged in
it the first was established in 1952.
The industry manufactures cycle-handle grips reflectors polythene
tubular film, plastic bags and plastic cane etc. In 1966-67 there were 15 units with annual production for Rs.
9.75 lakhs.
26.
Paints and Varnishes. The
only concern in the district for manufacturing paints and varnishes is located
at Ludhiana. Started on a very
small-scale in 1955, it has made marked progress and has taken up the
preparation of synthetic enamels, stoving enamels, black Japan, stoving
varnishes, stiff paints and primus.
About Rs. 2 lakhs have been invested in the industry with annual
production of Rs. 3.15 lakhs in 1966-67.
27. Umbrella Ribs. First started at Ludhiana in 1957 on a small
scale, the industry became well-established by 1961. high carbon steel wire is used in the manufacture of umbrella
ribs. Nearly Rs. 3 lakhs have been
invested in the industry. In 1966-67
annual out-turn was Rs. 3.15 lakhs.
28. Radio Assembling. This
industry sprang up in the district after Independence in 1947 when three units
started assembling radio-sets. On an
average all of them assembled nearly 500 sets in a year. The number of units gradually rose to
ten. In 1966-67 the number of units
assembling radios and transistors17 was 44.
17. Only four parts of the radios and eleven of
the transistors are said to be imported while the rest are manufactured in the country.
29. Rubber Goods.- Started in 1956, this industry manufactures saddle tops,
rubber-paddle rods, rubber solution (rough), V-shaped chappals, motor
spare-parts (rubber), etc. It is
sustained by cycle and motor industry.
Rs. 1.50 lakhs have been invested in the industry. In 1966-67 there were 9 units with annual
production worth Rs. 3.45 lakhs.
30. Stationery Articles. The main articles manufactured in the
district include pencils, pins and table stationery as detailed below :
(i) Pencils. Only one unit is engaged in the district at
Ludhiana since 1949. Started on a small
scale to begin with, it developed in course of time and by 1960 automatic
machines were installed.
All types of pencils, viz., writing,
drawing, checking, artist, copying and even cosmetic, are manufactured at
Ludhiana. For the manufacture of
superior types of pencils, cedar wood is imported from U.S.A. Stamping foil is also imported. Due to import restrictions, major portion of
the product, consisting of cheap pencils, is manufactured constituent, is
obtained from Ahmadabad (Gujarat).
(ii) Pins. The industry was started in 1961. There are two pin manufacturing concerns in
Ludhiana, Pins, gem-clips (triangular) over-clips and stapple (used in
stappling machines) are manufactured.
The total production per year is worth Rs. 1.50 lakhs. The total
production per year is worth Rs. 1.50 lakhs.
Mild steel wire constitutes its main raw material.
(iii) Table Stationery. The only unit engaged in the industry in
the district at Ludhiana was started in 1959.
It manufactures office punching machines small and heavy, stamping
machines, stamp-stands, blotters, table-files, paper-trays, waste-paper
baskets, pen-trays, letter-racks, call bells, commercial office file clips,
etc.
31. Snap Buttons. The industry was started in Ludhiana at 1959
when only one unit had gone into production.
Afterwards two more units came up, of which only one could survive. Manufacture of both parts of snap-button,
viz., male and female, as also their tin-plating, is done locally. Rs. I lakh have been invested in the
industry. In 1966-67 the annual
production was worth Rs. 4.75 lakhs.
The raw materials used are brass
strips and phosphor-bronze wire.
32. Spray Pumps. There is only one unit in the district at
Ludhiana, engaged in this industry.
Established in 1959, it has the capacity of manufacturing goods worth
about fifteen lakh rupees which can fully meet the requirements of the State as
a whole. It manufacturers spray dusting
machines ----- both power and hand-operated, used for anti-malarial operations
and civil defence purposes.
33. Steel Furniture. In 1966-67, three units were engaged in
the manufacture of steel furniture and produced goods worth Rs. 6.10 lakhs
during the year. The main items
produced are steel almirahs, sofa-cum-bed, sofa fix-tubulars, cash-boxes, safes
and a few items of office furniture.
34. Washing Soap. Soap making is an old indigenous industry of
the district. The principal centre is
Ludhiana, others being Khanna, Raikot and Jagraon.
The important raw materials needed
by the industry are caustic soda, oils, soapstone or sodium silicate.
In 1966-67, 94 units engaged in this
industry, with production amounting to Rs. 29 lakhs.
35. Zip Fasteners. The only unit of its kind in the country
engaged in the manufacture of invisible zip fasteners is located at
Ludhiana.18 It was started in 1963 with
the American machinery and technical know-how.
The articles manufactured are invisible-zip fasteners. Its production in 1966-67 was of the value
of Rs. 2.05 lakhs.
36. Chemicals. There is no chemical industry as such in the
district. However, an agency of the
D.C.M. (Delhi Cloth & General Mills) at Ludhiana deals in soda caustic,
bleaching powder, all kinds of acids, etc.
After packing the goods in sizeable packs, this firm supplies them to
retailers and consumers.
37. Casting/Forging. - Casting industry was started at Ludhiana about the year 1922 when
two or three small units, having small crucible furnaces, one of them having
small cupola furnace, were set up.
During the early stages, the Industry was confined to casting of hosiery
machine parts and oil-engine small parts for repair purposes. The above strength of casting units
continued for some two decades whereafter the industry began to expand and by
the time of the partition of 1947 the number of units had gone up to about 15. At the time, toka (fodder cutter) and oil
engine main parts also began to be manufactured. After the partition, the number of units increased in 1966-67 to
140 with annual production of Rs. 39.25 lakhs and the industry concentrated
itself at Ludhiana.
The industry produces oil engines,
machine tools, sewing-machines, hosiery-machines, re-rolling mills, centrifugal
pumps and other miscellaneous agricultural implements which have been discussed
under respective heads. The forging
industry has also been discussed under the heading nuts and bolts.
38. Oil Expellers and Parts. The post-partition period also
saw the brewing of another industry, viz., the manufacture of oil expellers and
their parts. In 1954-55, the number of
units was 8, besides one composite unit which had also undertaken the
manufacture of spare-parts, employing 77 workers in all.
18. The only unit of its kind in India, his is
the second in Asia, the first being in Japan which started production in 1960.
39. Hosiery Machines. - As
an important ancilliary to the well-developed industry, the credit for starting
the manufacture of hosiery machines goes to a Ludhiana (Nandpur) firm which
launched the enterprise in 1921. It
started with the manufacture of simple circular socks-machines. Shortly afterwards, about 6 to 7 units
entered the field and round and dialdar machines also began to be
manufactures. About the year 1938-39,
was started the manufacture of Raschal machines which revolutionized the
industry. By 1950-51, flat interlock
and sinker machines also began to be manufactured. Flat machine was sub-standard in the beginning ; but attained
perfection about the year 1958-59. Now
all types of machines used in the industry are manufactured in the
district. With the exception of one
unit working in Nandpur, the industry is, however, concentrated in Ludhiana
proper. The district can boast of a
well-developed hosiery manufacturing industry with several concerns
manufacturing quite elaborate structures with reputable precision. Major portion of the demand for machines is
being met locally.
There were 20 units engaged in the
hosiery machine manufacturing industry in 1954-55. In 1956, the number rose to 28 which continued as such till
1965-66.
Lathes of different sizes, drilling
machines, milling machines, shapers and grinders are some of the machines used
by this industry.
Iron and steel are the chief raw
material of the industry. The machines
manufactured are : Check Petti, Jay Jacquard Machine, Circular Non-Sinker Body
Machine, Sinker Body Machine, Interlock, Raschal Machine 96 wide, cold
Calendering Machine, Steam Calendering Machine, Battle Bobbin Winder, Circular
Hand Knittin, Circular Plain Rib, Circular Half Jacquard, automatic sock
machines, flats and over-look, etc.
40. Textile Machinery (Spare-parts). There is only one unit in
the district at Ludhiana engaged in the manufacture of textile machinery spare
parts in the district, such as reel and pin, winders, reeling machine,
powerloom spare parts, and steam and cold calender19.
41. Conduit Pipes. This industry was started in the district
as late as 1959. In 1966-67, there were
6 units engaged in the manufacture of conduit pipes and produced goods worth
Rs. 5.22 lakhs and provided employment to 55 workers. The number of units decreased in the said year due to inter-State
competition.
A village industry means any
industry which forms the normal occupation, whether, whole-time, of any class
of the rural population. According to the
Planning Commission, village industries are those small industries which are,
in the main, an integral part of the village economy. The small-scale industries located in village areas, thus, come
under the village industries category.
The employment provided by the village industries is mainly seasonal,
and the seasons vary from industry to industry as well as from area to area.
19. The manufacture of power looms is restricted
under the orders of the Textile Commissioner, Government of India.
The first effort in the direction of
developing village industries and of reviving the old industries started with
the Swadeshi movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
42. Handloom Weaving. - It is an age-old industry carried on by hereditary weavers. The period prior to and following the World
War II helped the industry to regain some importance because of the shortage of
cloth. Though of late textile mills and
powerlooms have dealt a stunning below to the handloom industry, it is
receiving due protection from the State.
Some varieties of cloth have been earmarked for manufacture only by the
handloom. Weavers are helped to convert
throw shuttle looms into fly-shuttle looms.
A cess has been imposed on mill-made cloth, the proceeds of which are
utilized towards rebate to customers.
The main raw materials are hand and mill spun yarn, staple and
woolen yarn. Hand spun yarn is
available in plenty from village folk in the district. All other varieties of yarn, excepting
worsted yarn to some extent, are secured form other States.
Handloom weaving is carried on in
all towns of the district. In villages
it continues as an important industry.
The goods produced by handloom are khadi, woolen mufflers, shawls,
tie-cloth, khes and staple cloth.
43. Leather and Hides Tanning. Hides, skins and bark of kikkar
tree form the main raw materials for the industry.
The industry mainly depends upon the
death rate of cattle. The hides and
skins of dead animals are first flayed and then treated with kikkar bark which
forms the locality available tanning material.
The hereditary Chamars (tanners),
who are mostly engaged in this occupation, lack up-to-date technical know-how
and hence do not use modern type of equipment.
They remove the leather with crude knives and spoil it. The tanners, too, are not acquainted with
modern technique of tanning and thereby reduce the value of leather. Tanning is, however, practiced by few only,
the general practices is to sell away hides.
In 1966-67, 450 units were engaged
in this industry which produced goods worth Rs. 35.75 lakhs.
The cottage units, engaged in the
industry, have been mostly organised into co-operative societies. Some of these co-operative societies are
working as production-cum-sales organisations. These model tanneries have been set up with the assistance from
the Khadi Board.
Jagraon is the main urban centre for
the industry in the district. The
cottage units there have been organised into co-operative societies.
The leather produced by these
cottage establishments is mostly used as sole leather or for making country
(desi) shoes
44. Shoes and Leather Goods Manufactures. Shoe making is also
an ancient industry among the traditional shoe-makers. Based on style, leather foot wear is commonly
classified into western type and desi type.
These types of footwear are manufactures of all leather, upper leather
and sloe of other material, etc., in the district. The raw material for western type of shoes and chrome used as
upper, mostly in the manufacture of desi type, are imposed fro other States.
1135 units were engaged in this
industry in 1966-67 with yearly out-turn of Rs. 9.30 lakhs.
45. Kohlu (Village Oil Presses). With the introduction of
power driven oil-crashers, the use of kohlus has greatly decreased. Now, there exist only a few kohlus in rural
areas. 10 units were engaged in 1966-67
in the industry with annual out-turn of Rs. 1.15 lakhs.
46. Ban and Rope Making. It is the industry of the villages in
the bet area, lying near the bank of the river Satluj, where bhabar grass- the
basic raw material for the industry is available in appreciable
quantities. Besides bhabar grass, the
locally produced moonj is also used for ban making. Improved types of machines, hand-driven and power-fitted, are now
used for ban making. These are provided
by Government besides loans for purchase of raw material, etc., in the form of
loan and subsidy, etc. There were 70
units engaged in ban and rope making in 1966-67 with annual production of Rs.
105 lakhs.
47. Gur and Khandsari. The indigenous production of sugar
consisted of gur and Khandsari. Machhiwara was famous in olden days for the
manufacture of khandsari20 by means of Khanchi system,
whereby the raw material, rab, was allowed to settle for a number of days in
Khanchi tanks lined with green fibrous material (cellulose) found in the nalas;
and the upper layer of the sediments was separated after the drainage of the
residual (seera) through a hole at the bottom of the tank. The sediment thus
collected was strongly rubbed by feet-pressing and white khandsari, stated to
be most useful from health point of view, was available for marketing.
With the partition of the country in
1947, the Muslim artisans shifted to Pakistan, and the sugarcane crop having
failed for a number of years afterwards, the khandsari industry could not be
revived on previous scale for lack of skill and shortage of sugarcane.
20. Sugar industry in the modern sense meaning white sugar industry,
is new in India Indigenous production of sugar usually consisted of brown sugar
popularly known as gur. Although gur is
simply unrefined sugar its nutritive value is far greater than that of the
white sugar. White sugar was also being
manufactured under the khandsari process
In the absence of any sugar mill in
the district, these is not much allurement to the cultivators to grow
sugarcane. They produce gur, etc., on small scale, mostly for their personal
use. The surplus is sold in the market. The popularity of white sugar has,
therefore, not much affected the production of gur and khadsari, which are
imported even from places outside the district. 26 units engaged in gur and
khadsari in 1966-67 produced goods worth
Rs. 4.80. Lakhs.