Indian Leather Industry

Leather, the oldest manufacturing industry in India, catered to the international market from the 19th century. Leather is a traditional Indian craft and the primitive methods of leather-making is still alive in many villages in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and Orissa. Modern methods of leather tanning were introduced by the British in 1857. The first leather factory in India was set up in Kanpur to make saddlery and harness. The following are some of the notable years in the development of Indian leather industry:-
1880: A boot factory was established by the British India Corporation in Kanpur
1890: More tanneries were set up in UP, Bengal, Bombay, Orissa and Central India
1895: Chrome tanning was introduced at Pallavaram, Chennai, then Madras. It was also introduced in Bangalore, Cuttack, Kolkatta, then Calcutta.
1903: Commercial chrome tanning started at Pallavaram, in Chennai ( Madras).
1913: By 1913, 22 chrome tanneries were established in several parts of India. Seventeen of them were at Pallavaram
The two world Wars lead to the establishment of more tanneries and product manufacturing factories in Kanpur, Agra, Chennai and other places.
I948: The establishment of the Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai (Madras) as a constituent laboratory under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
1951: Independent India banned the export of raw hides and skins and reserved the production of leather and leather goods to the small sector.
1972: Dr A Seetharamiah Committee Report suggested export of finished leather and value-added products only
1991: Economic liberalization and globalization helped leather industry also to flourish
2005: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs announced a Rs 2.9 billion- scheme for the integrated development of Indian leather industry – modernization of tanneries and setting up of modern footwear units were the focus areas.

1.1 The Industry- Economic