The Indian government wants to develop an “Indian footwear sizing system”, based on the notion that feet are “demography dependent”, thus variable. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen the Indian economy.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Shoes have become the latest battleground for the Modi government’s latest nationalist aspirations.
The authorities plan to develop an “Indian footwear sizing system” to cover the needs of the local population, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced.
The present Indian standard is based on Europe’s, but the anatomical and functional requirements of footwear for children, youth, and adults are “demography dependent”.
The Indian standard needs a revision to “accommodate for [the] demographic, [and] anthropometric features of Indian feet” to develop “more comfortable footwear”.
The government plans to invest 108 million rupees (US.4 million), taking into consideration all the variations – region, gender, age, health conditions, towards “the indigenisation of key products” that are essential for the “realisation of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India),” the ministry said.
This doctrine is designed to boost the competitiveness of the Indian economy advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.