MP govt to make available 50 lakh low cost masks at PDS shops

Bhopal, Apr 20 () The Madhya Pradesh government hasplanned to procure 50 lakh low cost cotton masks andfacilitate their availability at fair price shops for publicto contain the spread of coronavirus.

The government will get these masks stitched by womenfrom urban areas in the state, a public relations officialsaid on Monday.

A decision on this was taken during a meeting calledon Sunday by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on thestate's preparations to fight COVID-19.

The masks will be made available at all ration shopscovered under the public distribution system (PDS), theofficial said, adding that the preparation of masks would alsoprovide employment to women.

In the first phase of the initiative, the governmentwill procure 50 lakh cotton masks, which will not only be costeffective but also reusable after washing, he said.

Women of urban areas, who wish to engage themselves inthe mask-making activity, can get themselves registered withthe government and secure an order to make 1,000 masks, headded. ADU MASGK GK