Crackdown could hit lakhs of employees in leather industries
NEWDELHI: Your favourite Kolhapuri chappal and the fancy leather handbag may get costlier if the crackdown against illegal slaughterhouses and meat trade continues in UP and spreads to other states in the country.
While cow slaughter is banned across the country, barring a couple of states, the drive against illegal abattoirs has hit the buffalo meat and skin trade badly. Buffalo hide is used in a number of industries.
Since demonetisation, the leather industry that has been growing at a rate of 15% , has seen a production cut of 40% Here is how the ban would affect different sectors in different states.
UTTAR PRADESH
The state where the Yogi Adityanath government launched a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses is the main source of buffalo hide. In Kanpur’s Penchbagh alone, for instance, around 40,000 people are employed in 600 leather industries. While half of these units closed down in the aftermath of demonetisation, 100 others had to down shutters after the ban. In Agra too, the tourism and footwear industry is going through hard times. MAHARASHTRA
The famous handcrafted footwear made in Kolhapur town will bear the brunt of the ban. The chappal industries in Kolhapur employ over 6,000 people.
Kolhapur has seen large-scale unemployment since 2015 with the ban on slaughter of cow, bull, bullock and buffalo.
From 6,000 workers in 2015, only 500 workers remain now.
WEST BENGAL
Various allied sectors are vital to the running of local economy in West Bengal, one of the few states where cow slaughter is allowed along with that of ox and buffalo.
Hide processors, leather industry, footwear industry, restaurants thrive on the business.
Apart from workers of leather goods, the unorganised sector has over 10 lakh labourers.
PUNJAB
The leather industry in Jalandhar is widely dependent on buffalo hides. Traders expect rates to go up by around 30%. Over 10,000 employees at 60 tanneries are expected to be affected.
Besides, around 70 sports goods units will be directly or indirectly affected.
Volleyball, soft leather items in cricket and baseball are all made of leather.