To understand the current focus on skill-based training in the industry we spoke with some of the entrepreneurs and employees across the industry.

Mohit Awasthi – Sr. Production Manager –  Mehra Group, Kanpur (U.P.)

New workers who come to us are already skilled, I have been in this field for 12 years. There is a need to improve skilling programs in this industry. We participate in government programs, we try to tell them to train and demonstrate in our premises. The workers are paid as per their work and skill levels, our production capacity is 600 – 800, we work in both segments – 80% is leather, 20% is synthetic leather. Young people need to be trained. We are aware of PMKVY programs and we have two apprentices.

Pranshu Tiwari – Quality Manager (Nike) – Lotus Footwear, Chennai

We don’t employ unskilled workers, we tell them to get trained and then we recruit. We only train existing workers every fortnight. This is more on how to work in teams, motivate others etc. The supervisors are trained for higher skills, they feel encouraged. We have 28000 employees all over India, we make shoes for Nike. Sports and leather footwear making process is not the same; sports shoes have more components than leather. In leather they have to be trained in environmental issues also. We are using solar panel to reduce power consumption. The training has to focus on such differences.

Gaurav Mishra – Footwear Designer/ Technician Development Head, Kohali Leathers Pvt. Ltd, Kanpur (U.P.)

We train the unskilled workers internally. We have also benefited from government programs. Training has improved the quality of products and increased quantity, and workers’ confidence level has improved. We have 350-400 workers, out of which 200 are unskilled semi-skilled. Basically, I am a designer. I studied in International Institute of Saddlery Technology and Export Management (IISTEM), Unnao. We produce riding equipment like shoes and bridles. I am formally trained in footwear designing and manufacturing. To train are our own supervisors and help in production – we get faculty from FDDI and CFTI, I am also a Guest faculty for Government Leather Institute Kanpur. I also design shoes as a free lancer for physically challenged and special needs.

Ashutosh Shukla, Director, Swastik International, Unnao (U.P.)

Trained workers are very rare to find in Saddlery. You have to work hard to train them. We conduct internal training. It would be helpful if we trained workers it We need a dedicated institute for Saddlery since it involves hand crafting and it is export oriented. Ours is a micro enterprise with 9 employees; we have been into the business for 5 years. This is a niche area and we are slowly expanding by adding more products for the domestic market with a brand name Sliverstag.

Adil Siddiqui, Director, Tech Exim, Kanpur (U.P.)

We train people ourselves; we show them pictures and movies since they are unable to read and write. We have demonstrations by experts from abroad on how to use tools. People don’t like manual work. We don’t have contract workers, all our employees get ESI and PF. We need an institute near Kanpur for giving special practical training for Stitchers, Skivers and Operators who deal with Saddlery, because people who work with thin leather can’t handle heavy duty leather.

R Lalit Sharma, Director, Labdoo Shoes – Agra (U.P.)

I am a new entrepreneur, having started in 2017. I am from CFTI Agra and I’ve worked in Hong Kong.  We hire people from FDDI and not sure if programs like PMKVY give enough practical training. Though we are self-reliant in training and production, there is a need to start training courses in Agra for skill-based certification. We have 35 employees and others are on contract depending on production requirements. The contract workers are self-trained and experienced since they learn from their families. For quality purposes our QC team trains them internally. In China, government policies promote small units, hence overheads are less. They also get subsidies in machine, materials, Land and tex relaxation especially new enterprises; we need similar support in India.