Over the past three months, Haji Farookh, a third-generation leather trader has seen his business endure noticeable shifts. His godown, crammed with animal hide not too long ago, is almost vacant, while his labour force has shrunk from six to one.
Since the BJP-led government in Maharashtra banned the slaughter of bulls and bullocks, there has been an acute shortage of raw material for the leather industry. The impact is the most severe in Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums, where Mr. Farookh operates. Though past its prime, the slum still boasts a thriving leather industry of small-scale units.