Kashmir leather workers in trouble – level 3

23-01-2025 07:00

Business owners in the leather industry in Indian-administered Kashmir are facing a crisis. A ban on cattle slaughter in 2014, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced international demand, has left many tanneries struggling to survive.

Prices for processed animal hides have dropped to less than a third of their former value, making it difficult for factories to cover basic expenses like wages and electricity. In 2014, the government banned cattle slaughter, leading to widespread losses when vigilantes targeted trucks carrying hides. Although the Supreme Court lifted the ban in 2017, the damage had already been done, and many tanneries had closed.

Unemployment in the region remains three times higher than the national average. While the government promised support, people in the industry feel ignored. The importation of hides has worsened their situation by creating direct competition. Many leather workers hope for better policies, such as higher import duties, to support their trade.

Difficult words: tannery (the place where leather is made), hide (animal skin used for leather), vigilant (a person taking law enforcement into their own hands).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What impact has the combination of a ban on cattle slaughter, the COVID-19 pandemic, and reduced international demand had on the leather industry in Indian-administered Kashmir?

LEARN 3000 WORDS with NEWS IN LEVELS

News in Levels is designed to teach you 3000 words in English. Please follow the instructions
below.

How to improve your English with News in Levels: 

Test

  1. Do the test at Test Languages.
  2. Go to your level. Go to Level 1 if you know 1-1000 words. Go to Level 2 if you know 1000-2000 words. Go to Level 3 if you know 2000-3000 words.

Reading

  1. Read two news articles every day.
  2. Read the news articles from the day before and check if you remember all new words.

Listening

  1. Listen to the news from today and read the text at the same time.
  2. Listen to the news from today without reading the text.

Writing

  1. Answer the question under today’s news and write the answer in the comments.

Speaking

  1. Choose one person from the Skype section.
  2. Talk with this person. You can answer questions from Speak in Levels.

 

Stock images by Depositphotos