Punjabi Jutti, once the pride of Punjab has received a deathblow as lack of Government support added by the fast changing fashion trends are hard to keep pace with for the shoe-makers.
A recently conducted survey has disclosed that this handicraft business was on the verge of extinction. Thousands of families associated with this occupation have said that they had enough of it and are moving out to other businesses.
Changing fashion trends have added to the agony of manufacturers with the demand which was soaring during 60s and 70s and shrink in the 90s.
Government's policies have not helped as the leather comes under the ambit of Value Added Tax (VAT), which has made the shoe production dearer reducing the margin of profit the manufacturers enjoyed.
Profit-margins have declined almost 70 percent and the business with the distributors in Delhi, Gurgaon and Mumbai has also seen downtrend as well.
So, it is curtains for the famous pride of Punjab, the Jutti.
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