Pune: The Kasturba Solar Khadi Mahila Samiti - a self-help group (SHG) -registered under the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board (MSKVIB), Amravati, delivered a 10,000-mask order to the district collectorate, to help fight Coronavirus while facing the challenges of the lockdown.
Providing extra income
The SHG, not only provided masks but also helped in providing extra income to the women from weaker sections of Amravati district, during the lockdown. The women are also making various products with the help of yarn at their home and are planning to create a catalogue of products once things are normal.
"In the last week of March, we received the order for supplying masks from the Amravati district collector’s office. A few women who had a sewing machine at home and also needed additional income during the lockdown were roped in for the production of the masks. Our SHG members provided them with fabric to make masks and also collected them and supplied to the district collector’s office. There were eight to 10 such women who were involved in stitching the masks," said Pranita Kidely, secretary, Kasturba Solar Khadi Mahila Samiti.
"We have completed the order of supplying 10,000 masks in 40 to 45 days. This production of masks also helped in providing an additional income to these women of Amravati," she added.
Fabric innovation and earning revenue
Kidely said as the country is under the lockdown and the facility centre is also not functional completely, all the women of the SHG are engaged in preparing different products from yarn at home.
"At present, we are not able to work from the government facility centre. So we are making innovative products with a yarn such as a lamp cover, accessories, etc from home and also planning to launch a catalogue of these products post the lockdown. We are planning to launch around 10 to 12 innovative Khadi products," said Kidely.
Pradeep Chechare, Resource Officer (Khadi) MSKVIB, Amravati said, "This SHG has completed the order of 10,000 masks and also got few more orders. Besides the masks, they have also supplied the fabric made by them to different places during the lockdown for the manufacturing masks. They are also working on their product development by creating new and innovative products of Khadi which will also help them in earning better revenue."
Chechare also informed that the organic fabric processing is done at the government facility centre in MIDC Amravati to help in manufacturing a variety of masks.
