by Suman Gupta
The LIDCOM event took place at Turf on Tote in Mumbai, Mahalakshmi Race Course in the afternoon. We encountered the presence and support of Padmashree Milind Kamble, Shri Rajkumar Badole, Shri Dilip Dnyadeo Kamble, Shri Dinesh Waghmare (chairman), Honorable Ministers for Social Justice and Special assistance and actress Sonali Kulkarni, along with other ministers and senior bureaucrats and captains from the industry. The event was inaugurated by the cabinet minister, Mr. Rajkumar Badole followed by his speech in support of leather manufacture in India and the initiative of LIDCOM. Actress, Sonali Kulkarni also conveyed words in support of this initiative and how she believes that it is helping in reserving the culture and crafts of India.
LIDCOM (Leather Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra) undertaken by the government of Maharashtra is an organization that supports the charmakar community (Leather Manufacturers) in terms of growing the trade of Leather in India that increases the workflow for individuals as well as increases the trade of leather in pan India.
This leather industry is one of the oldest Manufacturing industry generating huge employment for the people and is among top ten foreign exchange earners in the country. However, Maharashtra accounts for only 2.8% of the market share of the industry that is pegged at the US $ 12 billion and is set to be the US $ 27 billion by 2020. It imperatives that we work towards consolidating over a position in this industry.
“This is the first of its kind initiative and we are confident of its utility and impact in furthering the cause of traditional skilled labor, there will be a slew of an initiative to give impetus to the leather industry in general and Charmakar community in particular in future,” said Mr. Rajesh F Dhabre, IRS Managing Director, LIDCOM.
