India Bans Leather Shoes

This week, India’s Central Board of School Education and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) approved a proposal by Maneka Gandhi to replace leather shoes with cruelty-free canvas alternatives as the required footwear in Indian schools. The proposal states that black leather shoes were introduced as part of a required school uniform during Britain’s colonial rule of India, and that by replacing them with canvas shoes, the country can choose its own, more eco-friendly, option. Representatives of CISCE say that the move will benefit schoolchildren and their families, as leather shoes require routine cleaning, polishing, and maintenance while canvas shoes are more comfortable and durable.