Written by 
23-01-2025 07:00
Business owners in the leather industry in Indian-administered Kashmir are facing a crisis. A ban on cattle slaughter in 2014, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced international demand, has left many tanneries struggling to survive.
Prices for processed animal hides have dropped to less than a third of their former value, making it difficult for factories to cover basic expenses like wages and electricity. In 2014, the government banned cattle slaughter, leading to widespread losses when vigilantes targeted trucks carrying hides. Although the Supreme Court lifted the ban in 2017, the damage had already been done, and many tanneries had closed.
Unemployment in the region remains three times higher than the national average. While the government promised support, people in the industry feel ignored. The importation of hides has worsened their situation by creating direct competition. Many leather workers hope for better policies, such as higher import duties, to support their trade.
Difficult words: tannery (the place where leather is made), hide (animal skin used for leather), vigilant (a person taking law enforcement into their own hands).
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