From manufacturing face masks to producing sanitisers, the Women Help Groups in India are playing a major role in the fight against Covid -19. And in Chhattisgarh, the Women Self Help Groups have produced more than 39 lakh face masks and about 10,000 litres of hand sanitisers.
Reports said that about 7,650 women from 2,165 self-help groups (SHGs) are engaged in preparing masks in 27 districts of the state since last two months. These self help groups are associated with the the Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihood Mission. The Women SHGs started making the masks in the last week of March, son after lockdown was announced.
Koriya district came out with highest number of 4,10,290 masks. While Rajnandgaon made 3.74,943 facemasks, Bemetara district came out with 3,50,705 face masks. The self help groups in Gariaband prepared 3,12,550 masks, according to officials. The masks that are made by the women self help groups are given to labourers engaged in work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and forest dwellers involved in tendu leaves collection. The officials also said that 36.37 lakh masks worth Rs 4.52 core of the total produced were sold.
Forty four Women Self help groups in 13 districts manufactured about 10,000 5 litres of sanitisers. They said that 7,690.35 litres of sanitisers have been sold till Monday. Apart from the facemasks and saniisaers, the women self help groups in the state are also engaged in making pattal and dona (disposable plates and bowls of dry leaves and paper). These are sold to quarantine centres. The women self help groups are also engaged in creating awareness about personal hygiene and social distancing.
