New Delhi (NVI): Rural women in Assam have engaged themselves in preparing various products such as hand sanitizers, homemade masks and liquid disinfectants to be distributed for free among family members and poor people in the nearby villages to help combat COVID 19 in the state.
In this initiative, these women have been engaged by Rural Women Technology Park (RWTP) which comes under CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorha and is supported by SEED Division and Department of Science and Technology (DST).
“Meeting a challenge such as coronavirus needs strong community participation and support. Self-help Groups (SHGs) and dedicated NGOs are perfect vehicles in the current scenario for awareness creation, introducing relevant solutions, making and distributing the low-tech items such as masks and disinfectants,” Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said.
Rural women from the region were trained to produce homemade masks from traditional ‘Gamocha’ (a traditional Assamese cotton towel) by RWTP, Jorhat.
Design of the homemade mask has been finalized, around 150 Gamochas purchased, in which 6 homemade masks can be prepared from one Gamocha, with two sewing machines arranged.
It has also been proposed that the women be paid at the rate of Rs 15 per mask. Apart from this, 200 liters of liquid disinfectant is being produced. The raw materials required for liquid disinfectant like dettol, ethanol, glycerine, essential oil have been acquired.
The women of RWTP were trained before closing down on March 24. The participant women prepared about 50 litres of hand sanitizer, 160 litres of liquid disinfectant which have already been distributed among the 60 women participants and their family members.
RWTP has also prepared posters and leaflets on ‘COVID19: Do’s and Don’ts’ in Assamese language for creating awareness among the people about the novel coronavirus pandemic and the precautionary measures to be taken during the prevailing situation.
