The Government has various schemes for the development and promotion of the leather sector. But, the MSME sector does not have a clear picture about these schemes. With an outlay of Rs 990.36 crore  allocated under the scheme titled 'Indian Leather Development Programme (ILDP)' for implementation during the 12th Plan period for overall development of Leather sector, the industry can make use of the following schemes run by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). 

I) INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF LEATHER SECTOR (IDLS):
 
This sub-scheme is aimed at enabling tanneries, footwear, footwear components, leather goods and accessories, leather garments, harness and saddlery manufacturing units to upgrade themselves leading to productive gains, right-sizing of capacity, cost cutting, design and development including simultaneously encouraging entrepreneurs to diversify and set up new units. The scheme provides assistance in the form of Investment grant @ 30 per cent to Micro and Small Units and 20 per cent to other units within a ceiling of Rs 2 crore for each product line for their modernization and technology upgradation.

II) SUPPORT TO ARTISAN (STA):
 
There are various clusters in India making traditional footwear and other leather goods. The aim of this component is to promote the clusters at various forums as they are an integral part of rural Indian economy and have potential for generating local employment and export. The artisan clusters (both urban and rural) are supported for providing Common Facility Centers, product development, marketing linkages and capacity building etc.

III)  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (HRD):
 
This sub-scheme targets potential leather work force all over India. This project trains and prepares individuals to work in industrial units. Assistance is provided for placement linked skill development training to unemployed persons, for skill up gradation training to employed workers and training of trainers. The placement of 75 per cent of trained persons is mandatory for availing assistance related to skill development training component.

IV)  ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES:
 
The objective of this sub-scheme is to provide infrastructure by way of establishing two new branches of FDDI to meet the growing demand of the Leather Industry for footwear technologists, designers, supervisors and mechanics.

V) LEATHER TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
 
Leather industry and tanning activity in particular is linked to environmental concerns and this sub-scheme envisages measures which are required to be put in place for industries to cope with the stringent norms.

Projects for installation/upgrading Common Effluent Treatment Plants are assisted upto 50 per cent within a ceiling of Rs. 50 crore under this component. Assistance is also provided for Pilot Projects under Technology Benchmarking and environmental management for leather units, for organizing Environment Related Workshops and for Pilot projects for Solid Waste Management.

VI) MEGA LEATHER CLUSTER:
 
This sub-scheme aims at providing infrastructure support to the Leather Industry by establishment of Mega Leather Clusters (MLC) which would assist the entrepreneurs to set up units with modern infrastructure, latest technology and adequate training and HRD inputs. Graded GOI assistance is provided depending on the total land area of the MLC ranging from minimum of 25 acres (for MLC without tanneries) and 40 acres (for MLC with tanneries) to MLC of more than 151 acres.  (KNN)