HAILAKANDI, May 10 - Fired by the zeal to make face masks abundantly available, women SHGs in Hailakandi have lately set up mask-selling kiosks so as to cater to the needs of the public.
Since the inauguration of the first mask-selling kiosk in Hailakandi town under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) on April 29, a total of 18,320 masks have been sold till date.
Another mask-selling kiosk was inaugurated by District Development Commissioner (DDC)-cum-Project Director of DRDA Vikram Dev Sarma at Katilcherra Block on Friday.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Sarma said, �During the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for masks is increasing by leaps and bounds. To keep the highly contagious disease at bay, wearing of mask is essential. All these masks have been made by women self-help groups under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission.�
In the meantime, the district administration has made wearing of masks or face covers mandatory. The DDC appealed to the public to buy these products from the women SHGs so as to support them financially and occupationally.
Sources said 72 women SHGs under ASRLM in the district have produced 1,41,898 masks till date. Biplob Kumar Nath, DPM of ASRLM, who is supervising the production of masks, said: �The two-leafed mask prepared from cotton cloth is sold at Rs 25 apiece�. Nath said the sale of masks is satisfactory as more and more people are realising their importance to save themselves from the dreaded virus.
The residents of Hailakandi, Katlicherra and other places across the district sincerely appreciated the endeavour of ASRLM, Hailakandi to cater to the needs of the public by making available masks at reasonable price at a time when they are being sold at inflated rates owing to acute shortage and unprecedented demand.
