Leather Conplex at Athani Nippani
(Belgaum Dist.) Khadi and Village Industries Commission

The Commission is putting all its efforts to organise right from flaying of the dead animal to the finishing of the end-products of leather like footwear and varieties of utility and fancy articles. Several departmental production and sales centres are established throughout the country to cater to the needs and development of this important Village Industry.

Athani selected In Karnataka, the commission identified large number of traditional leather artisans, concentrated in Athani, Nippani and Chikodi Talukas of the Belgaum District. These artisans who were spread along the border of Maharashtra, had acquired the skill and workmanship of Kolhapuri chappals which were and even now, are very popular in both rural and urban areas.

Training centre

The commission established a departmental training-cum-production centre at Athani in the year 1968. The centre provides to the artisans the technical know-how, working capital and marketing facility. As a result, the unit developed over 300 designs of footwear and the marketing facility is spread not only throughout the country but outside also. It is indeed a matter of pride that Athani or Nippani chappals have a market in Italy and France due to the efforts of KVIC. Today hundreds of artisans are trained and are experts of their trade. They have returned back the loan they had borrowed from the Banks and are now smiling in prosperity.

Sub-centre at Nippani

The demand for chappals of Athani is increasing day by day due to the organised efforts of the commission. To cope up with the demand a sub-centre had to be started at Nippani in 1992 to develop and improve the production.

Extra care The commission is aware that all the artisans engaged in the leather industry belong to the weaker section of the society and therefore con- sider it as its duty to improve their living standard also. A project of Rs. 200 lakhs has been prepared and approved by the commission. Separate assistance is sought from the State Government particularly for constructing dwelling houses with work-shed attached for these artisans under "Ashraya" Scheme. Assistance available, in the form of grant from SC/ST development Corporation is also being worked out.

The importance

1. It provides employment to Weaker Section of the rural society.
2. It provides employment to both men and women of the rural society.
3. It is as important as Khadi the livery of our independence.
4. It can be diversified in number of ways and verities as leather is essential for use of men and women and also for industrial requirement.
5. As for its scope world is the market !