The demand for the services of street cobblers (mending) in Delhi has decreased drastically over time due to several cheaper, convenient alternatives. The lack of capital, skills and access to the market has handicapped cobblers (many of whom were once shoemakers) and brought them on the streets to fend for themselves. For 180 hours of toiling on the streets, they earn an average income of rupees 5,000 in a month. The Cobbler Project aims to streamline the unorganized cobbler community in India through skill development. The skill development will enable cobblers to produce handcrafted footwear which will increase their employability, thereby reviving the craft and fostering livelihoods.
