Tannery Road

Tannery Road is located in the North East of Bangalore Cantonment, India. It is a 4 km long narrow road (about 40 ft. wide) with around 700 shops, named after the tanneries of the British India period located at the end of the Road. Tannery Road was officially renamed as Dr B S Ambedkar Road many years back, but it still is referred to by its old name. Tannery Road touches Fraser Town, Richards Town
Giddappa BlockPeriyar Nagar
an
Pillanna Garden
The Tannery Road area is highly populated with a high density. The suburb presents a picture which is a shocking contrast to the hi-tech image of Bangalore. As elections has not brought about any changes, the residents express disillusionment with politicians and politics. Pot-holes and broken pavements are a common feature of Tannery Road, in addition to heavy traffic, water problems, garbage, etc. There is scant respect for traffic rules, and vehicles of all types zoom past in all directions. Residents have to dodge puddles of dirty water and garbage, to move around.

Tanneries

The tanneries were established during the British Raj, with the tanneries being located on the outskirts of the Bangalore Civil & Military Station, such that they were located at a 'safe'distance from the posh areas of the Bangalore Cantonment. Most of the buildings are 100 years or older, with some still carrying the insignia of the British Crown - the Lion and the Unicorn. The hides to the tanneries were and is still supplied by the slaughter house located at the beginning of Tannery Road. Gradually around 200 tannery units which have come up around the original tanneries set up in British India. In times gone by, people from the Tannery Road area were not allowed into the cantonment, and residents of the cantonment avoided Tannery Road.

Around 5000 Arunthathiyar, Tamil Dalit labourers were brought by the British from Madras Presidency districts of Vellore, Madurai and Tirunelveli. The Tanneries are owned by Muslims and the labour consists of Tamil Dalits, from the original migrants. The raw skin is initially cleaned using water, then rubbed with salt and folded into a square like a saree, and this preserves the skin for another 2 weeks. The hides are then transported to Vaniyambadi and Ambur, Tamil Nadu. In 2006, many of the tanneries and curing units were shut down, and now there are only about 15 left today. Most of the labourers have moved to other professions, and their children also getting good education. Tanners have also migrated in large numbers to Ambur and Vaniyambadi, as a result of the declining tannery industry in Bangalore. The government proposed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, which would have stopped the slaughter of cow/oxen, and would have struck the death knell to the tanneries. The Bill was however withdrawn by the strong Congress Government.

Slaughterhouse

The slaughterhouse (called as Doddi by the locals in Tamil/Urd

is located at the beginning of Tannery Road, at the intersection of Pottery Road. It was established during British India, and is one of the few slaughterhouses in India, when cows/ox are slaughtered. It has an installed capacity of slaughtering 50 big animals and 200 small animals. However, at least 150 big and 500 small animals are slaughtered every day. The wastage is illegally dumped into the storm water drain located next to the slaughter house, causing issues of pollution and bad stench in the neighbouring areas. The slaughterhouse has been subject to many litigations, and recently Justices Cyriac Joseph and Ashok B in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) ordered the slaughterhouse be moved to Iblur, city outskirts. In June 2009, the Karnataka Pollution Control Board refused to renew the licence of the slaughterhouse as the effluent treatment plant was not in operation. An investigation by Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media found children aged 11–15 years working at the slaughterhouse, with the butchers (mostly Muslim) saying that they were unable to afford providing education to their children, and hence had them helping out in the slaughterhouse.

Residents of Tannery Road

Most of the residents of Tannery Road are Tamil language, Tamil-speaking Hindus and Christians, and Urdu

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