Rahul meets Dharavi leather hub workers

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, visited the Dharavi leather hub in Mumbai on Thursday to interact with workers and understand the challenges they face.

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Dharavi, one of the largest leather hubs in the world, houses hundreds of leather manufacturing units and employs over one lakh workers. Rahul toured several units, including the one founded by Sudheer Rajbhar, and engaged with both workers and entrepreneurs.

In a series of posts on X, Rahul reflected on his visit, highlighting the story of Rajbhar and the broader issues faced by Dalit youth in India. He wrote, “Rajbhar encapsulates the life and journey of lakhs of Dalit youth in India. Extremely talented, brimming with ideas and hungry to succeed but lacking the access and opportunity to connect with the elite in his field.” He praised Rajbhar for leveraging the skills of Dharavi’s artisans to create a globally recognised brand, stating, “He understood the latent skill of the artisans of Dharavi and created a brand that is recognised in the most esteemed corridors of fashion globally.”

Rahul emphasised the importance of inclusive production networks that empower skilled workers across sectors.

He also underscored the need for knowledge-sharing, mentioning that he brought a craftsman from Sultanpur to meet Rajbhar and learn how design and innovation can transform businesses. Rahul was presented with leather bags and wallets by the workers as tokens of appreciation for him and his family.