New Delhi (NVI): The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has received a purchase order from Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) to supply 1 lakh 80 thousand face masks.
The IRCS masks will be made of 100 per cent double-twisted handcrafted cotton fabric in brown colour with red piping, the KVIC in a statement said.
“KVIC has especially designed these double-layered cotton masks for the Indian Red Cross Society as per the samples provided by them. The mask will have suitably printed IRCS logo on the left side and the Khadi India tag on the right side. The supply of masks will begin by next month.” the statement added.
Furthermore, the execution of this order will require over 20,000 meter of fabric which will generate 9000 additional man days for the Khadi artisans.
KVIC Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena said that, the massive demand of Khadi Face Masks is a major step in the direction of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
“This order will help our Khadi artisans to produce more yarn and fabric and will further add to their income in these difficult times,” he said.
So far, KVIC has sold over 10 lakh face masks which include double layered Cotton Masks and triple-layered silk masks. The biggest order for face masks that the KVIC received was from the Jammu and Kashmir government for 7 lakh masks that has been delivered on time.
Approximately 1 lakh meter of Cotton fabric worth over Rs 1 crore and nearly 2,000 meters of Silk fabric of different colors and prints has been used in making these masks till now.
The KVIC received repeat orders from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office, Central Government ministries and orders from general public through KVIC’s E-portal. It has also supplied over 20,000 face masks to the Indian Railways too, the statement further said.
Apart from the sale, it has free distributed nearly 10 lakh Khadi masks to the district authorities though its Khadi Institutions across the country.
“Face Masks are the most critical tool to fight the coronavirus pandemic. These masks prepared from double twisted Khadi fabric not only meet the quality and scale of demand but are cost effective, breathable, washable, reusable and bio-degradable” Saxena added.
-RJV
