ILTA - Indian Leather Technologists' Association - Official Web Site

Notice

ILTA - Indian Leather Technologists' Association - Official Web Site - About Us

About Us
Leather Technologists' Association (India), was formed in the year 1950.Prof. Moni Banerjee joined as General Secretary under Presidentship of Prof. B. M. Das. This Association was renamed as 'Indian Leather Technologists' Association' and was incorporated in the year 1957 under the Companies Act. Fifty eight years back, ILTA made a small beginning to weave all segments of people sincerely devoted to the cause of Leather and allied Technology all over the country. The Association has members not only in all parts of the country representing every branch of leather and allied industries but also abroad.Through regional Centers, the Association strives to bring technologists all over the country close together and now has more than 600 members in various categories. This Association is presently headed by Mr. Arnab Jha , as President. Padmashri Dr. Y Nayudamma, Padmashri Mr. Nagappa Chettiar. Mr. V. P. Pandit and Mr. S. P. Pandit and Mr. Sanjay Sen are the past presidents whose names are to be reckoned with great respect. ILTA represents India in the 'International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies', the foremost body of its kind in the world and has been doing so ever since 1956.
Main objectives (i) To assist and encourage the application of Science and Scientific method to the manufacture and utilization of leather and allied products by the publication of Journal and other literature or by the holding of Meeting from time to time, or otherwise, to organize exhibitions, symposium etc for diffusing among the technologists knowledge and information relating to leather and allied industries, to create public interest in Leather Science by organizing popular scientific talks and by diffusing basic and applied scientific knowledge. (ii) To work for the most effective use of leather science and the scientific method for the uplift and welfare of the Society as a whole. (iii) To improve and safeguard the interests, the conditions of life, the professional and social status of all leather technologists in India. (iv) To establish scholarships, foundations, prize funds, awards etc. (v) To enable the Central & Provincial Governments and other public bodies to ascertain the views of this Association on matters directly or indirectly connected with leather and allied industries and to provide a convenient medium through which this Association may discuss with the said Governments and other public bodies on matters relating to the benefit of the leather technologists and the leather industry. (vi) To receive donations, endowments, legacies and subscriptions etc. to be applied solely for the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this Memorandum of Association. (vii) To affiliate or be affiliated to other institutions having kindred objects and to further or participate directly or indirectly, in the work or purpose of an Association or any body corporate or Association having its objects for the furthering of the interests of the Leather Science and its profession. To amalgamate with any other Association having objects altogether or in part similar to those of this Association. (viii) To extend and improve Scientific and technical education and the professional training of those seeking to become fully qualified Scientific or technical workers by organizing training facilities, conducting proper examination, and in other ways. (ix) To promote and encourage Scientific and industrial researchers in all branches of leather and allied products and to provide adequate endowment for research and to advice from time to time as to the administration of such endowments. (x) To establish or carry on, participate in the printing and publishing of books, pamphlets etc. for furthering the objects of the Association and the income, if any derived there from shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the object of the Association as set forth.
	Symposiums etc ILTA organized the first All India Leather & Allied Products Exhibition in India in the Indian Museum Hall, Calcutta in 1956. The first symposium on chrome tanning was also held during the same time under Presidentship of Prof. B. M Das and Leadership of Mr. S. K. Sen. This symposium was inaugurated by Prof. M.S. Thackerey, the Director General of C.S.I.R. Second symposium was on industrial leather on February 9,1958. Third symposium at Mumbai on March 8,1960 was on trends in synthetic tanning technology. The fourth was on footwear and footwear components during 1968 at Agra.
The fifth symposium was on March 3,1969 on leather auxiliaries and various import-export prospects at Batanagar, the first gallant fashion parade Calcutta and all India design competition was organized on April 23 - 24, 1970 while the second fashion parade and the sixth symposium on adhesives were organized in November 1971. The seventh all India symposium was held at Calcutta on March 10, 1973 on the development of export of leather and leather goods. The eighth symposium on leather industry, problems concerning foreign exchange, service conditions and benefits was organised at Kanpur on April 1, 1974. The ninth and tenth symposia took place on August 14, 1974 at Calcutta and in 1975 at Agra, while the eleventh was held in the same year at Calcutta to discuss the plan for the export of leather, footwear and leather goods from India with a target to reach Rs.800 crores of export. Salient Achievement Even when the Association was toddling, a quarterly 'Journal of the Leather Technologists' Association (India) was published from January 1952, which was converted into a bimonthly in 1958, when it was renamed "Journal of Indian Leather Technologists' Association, which name it still bears. In 1959, the Journal was again converted into a monthly with a worldwide circulation. The Association in 1960-61, published the first All India Directory of Leather industry. Besides publishing Journals and Directories, the Association also published textbooks like, 'Analytical Chemistry of Leather Manufacture, by Prof. P. K. Sarkar', 'An Introduction to the Principles of Leather of Manufacture, by Prof S. S. Dutta','An Introduction to Physical Testing of Leather, by Prof. S. S. Dutta' and 'Practical Aspect of the Manufacture of Upper Leather, by Mr. J. M. De' and ‘Comprehensive Footwear Technology’ by Mr. Somenath Ganguly etc. at an affordable price for the students. Globally the Leather Technology text books are scant and costly.
	In September of 1957, ILTA produced a documentary film on the state of art of the leather industries in India to present before the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress. ILTA is the constituent body of IULTCS which is a 108 years old organization. The International Congress of this union is held in different locations of the world once in two years. In its 108 years history, for the first time in India ILTA with strong support of CLRI, organized, International Congress of IULTCS in 1999, an event first held in any Asian Country. The ' Science and Technology for Leather into the Next Millennium' (based on Proceedings of the XXV IULTCS Congress, 1999) was published on the same occasion. From 1965 ILTA instituted awards in the memory of Prof. B.M.Das & J.M.Dey to the top ranker at the University graduate and post graduate levels.
From 2003, Sanjoy Sen Memorial Medal is being awarded to topper in B. Tech (Leather Technology) from Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (Kanpur) and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar on alternate years. J. Sinha Roy Memorial Award also was instituted for the author of the best contribution for the entire year published in the monthly journal of the Indian Leather Technologists' Association. Every year ILTA on its Foundation Day 14th August organizes Prof. B. M. Das Memorial Lecture, which is delivered by Luminaries of science and technology of various disciplines. Prof. S. N. Bose, Dr. Sykes etc. are few to name in this context.Every year since 2003 on 14th January, Late Sanjoy Sen’s birthday, ILTA organizes “Sanjoy Sen Memorial Lecture”. ILTA organise Leather Fair in different parts of the country. It organizes LEXPO, a trade fair on leather and leather goods at Calcutta, Siliguri and Ranchi every year. ILTA arrange technology & industry meet. Main beneficiaries are Cottage and Small Scale Industrial entrepreneurs. ILTA offers service to the Union and the State Governments in various advisory capacities. The year long programme of the Golden Jubilee celebration of ILTA which was inaugurated at the Science City auditorium on 14th August 2000 by the Erstwhile Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Mr. Jyoti Basu was concluded with valedictory function at the same venue on 12th and 13th August, 2001. Also as part of the Golden Jubilee celebration programme, ILTA organized the Conference of South and South East Asian Countries on leather and allied technologies on 4th and 5th March 2001 at Khudiram Anusilan Kendra. A total of about 400 delegates including 30 non-Indian participated at the Conference. In order to strengthen its activities, ILTA laid down the foundation stone of its six storied building in Kolkata on the 48th foundation day and has been operating from there – ‘Sanjoy Bhavan’, 44 Shantipally, Kolkata 700 107 since July 2003. Qualified and experienced members of the Association render free service to village tanners on technical problems. The association is always ready to render possible technical assistance to the trade. Representatives of the Association are included in various councils and the governing bodies of technical institutions, where they have commendable contribution. This Association is managed by an Executive Committee duly elected by the members of the Association. It is absolutely a voluntary organization working for the betterment of the Leather and allied Industry. None of the Executive Committee members receives any remuneration for the services rendered but they get the satisfaction of being a part of this esteemed organization.