Leather tanning industry in Kanpur hit by ongoing global recession

Kanpur, Jan 17 (ANI): The leather tanning industry in Kanpur is going through a difficult time in the absence of sufficient orders due to the ongoing recession around the world.

In fact, the global melt down has badly hit the leather tanning, processing and manufacturing units in Kanpur. There has been a sharp drop in leather production in the past few months.

Earlier, there were 412 leather factories in Kanpur. Today, on account of recession, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of factories.

"The factories are closing down in the absence of orders. There is lesser number of orders due to the high rates. All the big factories have stopped work for three days in a week. The labourers are given salaries. The leather industry in Kanpur is in a very bad shape and the Government should first increase the subsidies," said Iqbal Solanki, owner of a leather factory.

Meanwhile, on account of these trends, the workers most of whom used to work as casual labourers, are having a tough time making both ends meet in the absence of suitable work.

"For the past three to four months, we don't have work. The owners of factories tell us there is no work since there are no orders. We have to earn our livelihood through this. We are very worried," said Mustafa, a worker at a tannery.

The high price of the chemicals used in the processing of leather and its end products has adversely affected the entire leather industry.

This, in turn, has hit the leather exports from Kanpur.

Earlier, leather and products worth rupees 2750 million were exported from Kanpur whereas over the past few months, on account of recession the overall production and exports have been reduced to just 25 per cent of the previous figures.

On their part, the owners of tanneries and other leather production centres at Kanpur blamed the Government's apathy in not taking appropriate corrective measures.

Many entrepreneurs noted that there has been a reduction in the inflow of foreign currency. The authorities should step into to set things right. By Mahendra Mishra (ANI)