The leather industry employs a work force of around 4.42 million men and women, and women now make up 25% of the industry as a whole, with 50% in the leather goods subsector. Today, as we are aim to put our economy on a high trajectory growth path, it is important that we address gender issues because they have implications for the overall socio-economic development of the industry. Within the framework of the project funded by the European Union SWITCH-Asia grants programme, Effective waste management and sustainable development of the MSME tanning companies in Kolkata leather cluster (Bantala), a gender sensitisation programme was developed gradually from comprehensive findings about the health and safety of workers. Workshops in the programme aim at developing a deeper understanding of the roles of women and men in society and the workplace as well as increasing the level of awareness on gender related issues that prevail in both the personal and the professional sectors. Solidaridad is creating a change in perception, recognition, accommodation and action. Through implemented workshops, the organisation has been invested in creating an understanding among women and men that they are responsible and equal partners in socio-economic development. The present Gender Framework will equip the leather industry (both workers and owners) with tools for reflecting on the role of women in the industry, while helping them consider ways to improve and strengthen women’s participation as part of the workforce and as part of a holistic approach that will enable men to understand the role of women in their personal and professional work place. It is hoped that this Framework will act as a template for developing a progressive model for the sector as a first step towards mainstreaming gender in India’s leather sector.
About the Projects
Solidaridad implements two EU funded SWITCH-Asia projects in India, promoting circular market-based models for processing solid waste generated from leather tanning and finishing practices in the Tamil Nadu leather clusters. These projects enable the reduction of amount of solid waste that ends up in the open spaces/landfills, improve the public health situation for workers and people living near leather clusters in Tamil Nadu and enhance international competitiveness and market access of leather export from Tamil Nadu.
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