by Bilal Bahadur
SRINAGAR
The conclusion of three days of Eid Al Azha sets in motion the processing of animal hides, collected by various religious and social organizations. The sacrificial hides collected are of sheep, goats, and cows.
Before 2014, these hides, which are usually donated by people as part of charity, were processed locally and sold in markets outside Kashmir, earning good money.
But as tanneries in mainland India face survival threats from right-wing Hindu organizations, the value of these hides has gone down drastically, leaving local merchants in distress.
Kashmir being one of the largest consumers of meat produces huge quantities of hides. These hides are then processed in tanneries to make leather products. The finished leather products mostly end up in European markets.
