Odisha On COVID-19 Alert: SHGs Join Hands To Make Affordable Masks In Ganjam

Bhubaneswar: In order to meet the growing demand for surgical masks in Odisha, women self-help groups (SHGs) in Ganjam district have joined hands to manufacture and sell them at affordable rates.

The Social Welfare Officer of Ganjam district, Manorama Reddy, said, “Many SHG workers from different corners of the district have started making the masks to cater to the higher demands in the market at a time when the threat of coronavirus looms large.”

As per reports, SHG members are using cotton clothes and other locally available materials to produce hygienic masks that are economical and can be re-used. Each mask will be sold for Rs 20.

The production of the masks began on Sunday and the finished items will be sold at the panchayat levels from Monday.

Speaking about the mission, Basant Padhi, a trainer who is helping the SHG team to make such products, said, “We are producing close to 100 such masks per day with the help of 60 women members of our team. They are using cotton to make these masks. The advantage of these masks is that they can be used 2-3 times unlike the commercial masks available in the market.”

The SHG members will submit the finished products to the state government, which will then ensure that the masks are transported to the market and distributed responsibly.

Earlier on Saturday, Ganjam Collector Vijay Kulange and other officials had met the SHG workers to discuss about the rates, quality and distribution of the masks.