GUWAHATI, April 8 - During the lockdown, women�s self-help groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY NULM) have moved into home-made mask making which is generating livelihood for the members.
The SHGs also intend to help the State government in its fight against the dreaded viral disease and are reaching out to intended target groups without much logistics and transportation issue.
Priced between Rs 20 and Rs 40, the masks are being made available for local residents, local shopkeepers, district administration, NGOs, sanitary workers of municipal bodies, etc. An official said the mission directorate has issued advisory on making of masks among the SHG members in English, Assamese and Bengali languages.
�Around 80 SHGs in 25 towns, including Guwahati, are engaged so far in production of home-made masks and 25,880 masks have been produced by the SHGs till date,� he said.
The SHGs are tapping the market potential for the time being, generating income in this period of lockdown as well as serving the public by selling the products at a reasonable price, the official said.
Some SHGs have also been visiting localities to generate awareness on the COVID-19 and distributing essentials among the most vulnerable sections. Meanwhile in Rangiya, a railway contractor has placed the order for 15,000 masks with four such SHGs.
