Special Package for Employment Generation in Leather and Footwear Sector

Government has approved special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector. The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme ‘Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme (IFLADP)’ with an approved expenditure of ₹ 2,600 crores over the three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This information was given by Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, Shri C.R. Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today. The Minister informed the House that there are seven sub-schemes under IFLADP and listed out the various details of the sub-schemes:

(i) Human Resource Development (HRD) sub-scheme provides assistance for Placement Linked Skill Development training to unemployed persons @ ₹ 15,000 per person, for skill up-gradation training to employed workers @ ₹ 5,000 per employee and for training of trainers @ ₹ 2 lakhs per person.

(ii)   Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS) sub-scheme incentivizes investment and manufacturing including job creation by providing backend investment grant/subsidy @ 30% of the cost of new Plant and Machinery to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and @ 20% of the cost of Plant and Machinery to other units for modernization /technology upgradation in existing units and also for setting up of new units.

(iii) Establishment of Institutional Facilities sub-scheme provides assistance to Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) for upgradation of some of the existing campuses of FDDI into "Centers of Excellence" and establishing 3 new fully equipped skill centers alongside the upcoming Mega Leather Cluster.

(iv) Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster (MLFAC sub-scheme provides infrastructure support to the Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector by establishment of Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster. Graded assistance is provided up to 50% of the eligible project cost, excluding cost of land with Government assistance being limited to ₹ 125 crores.

(v) Leather Technology, Innovation and Environmental sub-scheme, assistance is provided for upgradation/installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) @ 70% of the project cost. The sub-scheme also provides for support to national level sectoral industry council/ association and support for preparation of vision document for Leather Footwear and Accessories Sector.

(vi)  Promotion of Indian Brands in Leather, Footwear and Accessories sub-scheme, eligible units approved for Brand Promotion are assisted. Government assistance is limited to 50% of total project cost subject to a limit of ₹ 3 crores for each brand, each year for 3 years.

(vii) Additional Employment Incentive for Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector scheme, employers' contribution of 3.67% to Employees' Provident Fund for all new employees in Leather, Footwear and Accessories sector are provided for enrolling in EPFO for first 3 years of their employment.