The Government of Maharashtra mulls loan waiver for cobblers, leather workers

Addressing the State Legislative Council during the Monsoon Session, Gulabrao Patil, Minister of Water Supply and Sanitation, confirmed that a settlement plan is currently under review to assist the cobbler community and leather workers. "Since the corporation’s establishment, beneficiaries have been provided with loans, and the demand to waive these has been persistent," Patil told the council. "We are exploring the possibility of a one-time settlement, though a final decision is yet to be made."

The move follows a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in February to address the mounting financial burden on the community. Beyond debt relief, the state has pledged a significant upgrade to the industry’s infrastructure in Mumbai. Patil announced that the government would replace traditional metal-sheet roadside stalls with high-quality modern units for local cobblers. He also detailed plans for a major industrial upgrade in the suburbs.

"An international-standard leather hub cluster and training centre will be set up on a two-acre plot in Govandi," the minister said, adding that the state is "actively working" to meet the remaining demands of the community.

The proposed hub is expected to provide modern machinery and professional training to local artisans, as the state looks to modernise its traditional leather-working clusters.