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Working Group for the formulation of Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).

Leather and Leather Goods Industry

Dated 5th December 2000

Composition:

II. Terms of Reference:

1. To review the status of Leather, leather footwear and leather goods industry upto and during the Ninth Five Year Plan Period along with an analysis of capacity and production achievement (estimates) by 2001-02 vis-à-vis targets highlighting the areas and reasons for any shortfalls;
2. To estimate the year-wise demand for leather and leather goods for indigenous consumption as well as for export upto 2006-07 and in the perspective period upto 2017 A.D;
3. To estimate capacity and production targets for 2006-07 along with recommendations for the most advantageous way of achieving the targets;
4. To estimate year-wise phasing of demand and capacity as also production targets, investments required to achieve the targets, besides foreign exchange component (year-wise) on capital and maintenance account during the Tenth Five Year Plan.
5. To benchmark Indian Leather industry against international leather industry;
6. To recommend policy framework for the development of internationally competitive leather industry bearing in mind the priority to be attached to employment-intensive and decentralized methods relating to setting up of abattoirs, dealing with fallen animals, etc. as well as imports of quality hides and skins, particularly: for the village and small industries sector, including for re-export of value-added products;
7. To suggest measures for increasing exports of leather products;
8. To review the present status of the leather industry in the Village and Small Scale sector, problems it is facing, areas of support it needed and suggest measures for making this sector internationally competitive;
9. To recommend measures necessary for modernization and upgradation of technology in processing of leather, shoe manufacturing, making of leather goods, etc., in the organized sector, small-scale and tiny sector including artisanal production;
10. To estimate the requirements of major machinery and components for footwear/leather goods, etc. category-wise, to achieve the targets and suggest the manner in which to meet the requirements during the next five years, including imports, if necessary, for making the leather industry internationally competitive;
11. To assess the requirement of raw materials and suggest measures for meeting the future demand;
12. To recommend appropriate R and D programmes for the development of products/processes, improving quality, reducing costs, conserving utilities, and increasing exports of leather goods;
13. To recommend measures for promoting ancillaries;
14. To assess the direct as well as indirect employment likely to be generated in the Tenth Five Year Plan period, both in the organized and village and small scale sectors;
15. To assess category-wise (the skilled, unskilled etc.) requirement of work-force during the Tenth Plan period for the leather industry;
16. To suggest schemes/measures for human resource development and facilities to be created for meeting the requirements taking into account extension of upgraded core facilities created in the areas of HRD, design and product development, testing, fashion design, etc. both in the public and private sectors;
17. To examine the pollution and ecological aspects of the industry and suggest suitable measures to prevent pollution including setting up of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs);
18. To review the present status of the use of information technology and suggest measures for integration of information technology, automation and networking for improving overall productivity and efficiency of the leather industry;
19. To make such other recommendations as may be appropriate.

The Working Group may co-opt such official (s) or non-official as member of the Group as considered necessary. The working group may also constitute sub-group (s) if so necessary.

The expenditure on TA/DA in connection with the meetings of the group will be borne by the parent Department/Ministry to which the official belongs. The non-official members of the Committee will be entitled to TA/DA as permissible to Grade-I officers of the Government of India and this expenditure will be borne by the Planning Commission.

The Working Group will submit its report within six months.