Covid-19 crisis leaves Agra shoemakers in lurch as tourists stay away

Annual turnover likely to drop to a third of Rs 800-900 crore

Apart from the Taj Mahal, Agra is also known worldwide for its handmade leather shoes. But the Covid-19 crisis has left India's this biggest shoe production centre in a shambles, with shoemakers's residences showing no activity even three weeks after the lockdown was lifted. Agra is among the worst Covid hit cities of Uttar Pradesh where almost half the area has been declared a hotspot.

Around 300,000-odd shoemakers in Agra have had virtually no work for the past three months. Artisans engaged with shoe and leather accessories manufacturers are sitting idle at home. Independent shoemakers, who used to sell their product