WOMEN MAKE KHADI MASKS TO STAY AFLOAT AMID PANDEMIC

Masks have become an essential commodity during the pandemic, and tapping on this opportunity are the members of Enactus, Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). The students, under their project Aavran, are helping widowed women of Lal Bagh, Delhi, to make and sell Khadi masks.

Divya Ravi, president of Enactus, SRCC, says, “For our initial funding, we were helped by two of the SRCC alumni. The project began with five women, but after an increased demand, we employed three more.”

A steady income for these women is the project’s primary focus, for which the volunteers identify NGOS that conduct mask distribution drives. “We sell them at subsidised rates to the NGOS that give them out free of cost. Each woman was able to make ₹6,000-6,500 in the last month,” adds Ravi.

To ensure a steady demand for masks, they have tied-up with groups outside Delhi, too. “We have got orders for 5,000 masks in just one month. We also get orders through our social media, and have provided masks to ragpickers in Karnataka,” says Arushi Mahajan, a project member.

All Covid-19 safety norms are followed at work, shares Roopam, who is employed under the project. “Regular temperature checks are done, and we are mandated to use sanitisers before we start the work. All of us at work are maintaining all the social distancing norms. Every batch of 30-35 masks per person is sanitised and then packed for delivery,” she adds.