HAILAKANDI, April 30 - A mask sale corner was inaugurated in Hailakandi on Wednesday to cater the shortage of masks in the district.
Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), Hailakandi, has roped in women self-help groups (SHGs) to produce masks to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The mask sale corner was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi, Keerthi Jalli.
Jalli said that wearing masks, hand-washing and maintaining social distancing are the best ways to break the novel coronavirus chain.
Jalli urged the people to buy eco-friendly masks produced by local women SHGs to prevent the spread of COVID-19. She lauded the initiative of ASRLM to rope in the SHGs and to provide them means of livelihood during the lockdown period.
District Development Commissioner Vikram Dev Sarma and Deputy Superintendent of Police Nayan Moni Barman and president of Hailakandi Zilla Parishad Farhana Khanam Choudhury were also present on the occasion.
As many as 72 SHGs have been engaged across the district and together they made 13,803 masks in a short span of time, claimed ASRLM.
�To meet the shortage of masks in the district, we have engaged 72 women SHGs, comprising 106 members. As many as 13,803 masks have been produced till Tuesday,� said Biplob Kumar Nath, District Programme Officer of ASRLM.
Several voluntary organisation, NGOs, banks, clubs, social welfare centres and government organisations have bought the masks, Nath said. The double layered cotton masks come for Rs 25 per piece. Nath said that the SHGs have made quite a good earning by making the masks during the lockdown.
Nath said that plans are on the anvil to produce three-layered masks and to keep the rate nominal to make them within the reach of the common man.
The administration has made wearing of masks and face covers mandatory in the district. As many as 69 persons have been arrested for not wearing masks or face covers and six cases were registered so far in this regard.
