Affordable Khadi masks now on frontlines of battle against Covid-19; price just Rs 20-22

To meet the demand for masks amid COVID-19 outbreak across Uttar Pradesh, the CM Yogi Adityanath led government will now deliver khadi masks at the doorsteps of the public. This will not just step up the battle against coronavirus, it will also create employment for women at the local level. There are about 2,000 self-help groups of women in the state at present, with nearly 2 million women beneficiaries and they will be the ones manufacturing these face masks.

Navneet Sehgal, Principal Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, told IANS  that the khadi masks are being prepared by women SHGs of the Village Development Department. They have been given six lakh metres of cloth, with eight masks made from one metre and another 1-2 from cloth cuttings. In this way, about 50 lakh masks will be made. A pair of masks will cost Rs 20-22 in the market."

Specifications:
Khadi masks are three-layers made of hand spun hand woven khadi fabric which is breathable, can easily be reused, washable and biodegradable. These masks will be available in packing of two. 

Training for making masks has been sourced out to an organisation called Indian Green Khadi.

Beneficiary:
The central and state governments give 20 and 15 per cent subsidies on khadi clothes respectively. 5 per cent grant from the state goes directly to the accounts of weavers.

Mask Distribution:
The masks will be distributed through the Rural Development Department and Gram Panchayats. These can take the help of post offices, banks and other NGOs.

Many institutions are contacting the Khadi and Village Industries Department for this. After manufacturing the activists of Sahayata Group will deliver the masks to the market.

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Khadi Branding:
At present, there are about six lakh cotton and khadi weavers in the state.