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FDDI organises meet on placement linked skill development

15
Dec '08

Agra is one of the largest footwear and leather clusters of India (5000 units-including cottage/SSI units) having daily production capacity of 250000 pairs of different types of footwear. It is also the biggest centre for producing footwear for the domestic market.

"Though, in terms of the infrastructure and trained manpower Agra has improved, yet, the leather industry of Agra is in dire need of trained manpower in order to stay in competition." says Mr. Rajeev Lakhara, IRS, Managing Director, FDDI.

Agra-made leather shoes make it to markets that include the US, Germany, France, Holland, England, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and West Asia and enjoys rich clientele base like Clarks, Salamander, Florescheim, Timberland etc.

The Agra footwear industry is witnessing a positive growth but, the footwear units are facing labour shortage. The supply of skilled and semi-skilled labour has failed to match the growth in production of the industry.

When contacted, Mr. Rajeev Lakhara, IRS, Managing Director, FDDI, said, "The footwear exporters of Agra contribute around 27 per cent of the total Indian exports from the sector. Though, in terms of the infrastructure and trained manpower Agra has improved, yet, the leather industry of Agra is in dire need of trained manpower in order to stay in competition."

"Thus, in order to tide over the crisis, FDDI has planned the establishment of a training centre at Agra for running short-term courses in different areas of operations that could produce trained manpower for the industry readily employable", added Mr. Lakhara.

Objective of the Training Programme:
-To train unemployed youths of the society;
-To cover leather & footwear products manufacturing clusters;
-To provide gainful employment to the qualified youths.

In this regard, an industry meet on 'Placement Linked Skill Development Programme' was organized by Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) at hotel 'Holiday Inn' Agra on 1st December 2008 in association with Agra Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Chamber (AFMEC) and Agra Shoe Manufacturers Association (ASMA).

"Training will be given to freshers, un-trained in any operation such as Cutting and Closing operations for four weeks." said Mrs. Farida M Naik, Under Secretary, DIPP. Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Farida M Naik, Under Secretary, DIPP said "Training will be given to freshers, un-trained in any operation such as Cutting and Closing operations for four weeks."

She further said that, "FDDI will enable the footwear exporters to ponder on the possibilities of incorporating the new technology into their present setup with the help of the trained operators."

Mr. Shashi Bhushan Shukla, IRS, Secretary, FDDI while addressing the industry said "The centre would be having a capacity to train 6480 workers in three years of time & then the trained people will be provided job in the leather units."

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