Union approves XI leather plan

The Union cabinet has approved the Indian Leather Development Programme (ILDP) for the XI Plan period, envisaging an outlay of Rs913 crore, more than double the outlay of Rs400 crore allocated in the X Plan.The ILDP consists of various schemes such as infrastructure development of the leather sector, a leather complex at Nellore, establishment of subcentres of the footwear design and development institute, the footwear complex at Chennai, saddlery development activities, support for rural artisans, human resource development activities, establishment of institutional facilities, creation or improvement of environmental protection systems, foreign and domestic investment promotion and consultancy services.Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided by the government to the tanners and manufacturers of leather products such as footwear, garments, leathergoods (bags, wallets, gloves etc) for technological upgrading and modernisation of production units and development of human resources.