Chennai: Blind women stitch up masks for the needy

CHENNAI: Sowmya came to Chennai to learn to stitch dresses. Now, the visually challenged 28-year-old native of Salem and 24 others from various districts across the state are stitching masks in Tondiarpet.
After a year's training provided by the Tamil Nadu Blind Association, members of the group have so far managed to churn out 5,000 masks, sold at Rs 15 each, and are awaiting orders. The 'factory' not only supplies cheap masks to people in the neighbourhood, it also provides the women a means of livelihood.
The 25 women, accommodated in a building in the area, operate on an equal number of machines ensuring physical distancing. They can't see their hands deftly move on the cloth in front of them, but the way they sewing an elastic band on both sides of the rectangular cloth with perfection is a pretty sight.
Imparted the technique of measuring just once, they follow the pattern for all the pieces and ensure they do not waste any material. "We came up with the idea of making protective masks to do our part in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic," says Vishwanathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Blind Association.
Admitting that while they are not medical grade and cannot be e compared with N95 masks, he hoped that the masks, which are made of user-friendly material like cotton, will be highly helpful during the summer.
"The association will hand over the machines used by the blind people for their own use. They work taking adequate breaks. This training will help them to earn a decent livelihood," said Vishwanathan. Shanthi, one of those who helped train the women said they were selling the masks for Rs 12 to Rs 15 each.
"The women make not less than 200 masks every day. It is our way of ensuring these affordable masks reach every one," she said, adding that they were made with good care. "They are sent out of the godown after sanitizing."
The other members of the group said that they would even be able to make designer masks according to the pattern which the customers demand.