VARANASI: The nimble fingers skilled in weaving the famous Banarasi sarees known for their opulent, intricate embroidery and zari are nowadays busy making life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around 20-25 artisans are busy making PPE kits at a unit in Patia locality of the city. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak, these craftsmen were engaged in traditional works like embroidery and garment making to meet the demands of the fashion world.
Now, they are working to ensure protection of frontline corona warriors like doctors and health workers by making protective gears for them.
“We have been in the business of Banarasi saree for generations. When the Covid-19 lockdown hit our trade, I thought of making PPE kits. We started working in this direction with the help of the industry department,” unit owner Govind Agrawal told TOI on Wednesday.
“We utilized our existing manpower as they are skilled in making readymade garments and sent seven samples to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing and approval. All the samples were approved,” he said.
“The samples were also certified by SIPRA Lab.
We manufacture over 200 PPE kits per day and can make more as per demand. Presently, we have a stock of 3,000 kits,” Agrawal said.
Since there was shortage of PPE kits, the industry department encouraged Agrawal.
“It is the first DRDO certified unit manufacturing PPE kits in the whole eastern UP. The DRDO certification is essential for manufacturing PPE kits for government use,” said joint commissioner, industries, Umesh Singh.
“The unit can manufacture 5,000 PPE kits in a month and can increase it to 10,000 per month.
Process is underway to get the unit registered with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for supply to government hospitals,” he added.
“We manufacture over 200 PPE kits per day and can make more as per demand. Presently, we have a stock of 3,000 kits,” Agrawal said.
“We imported a taping machine from Taiwan for this purpose. We will supply the PPE kits at a reasonable price within Rs. 500. Since starting this work, we are also feeling that we are contributing to the battle against coronavirus pandemic,” said Agrawal.
Around 20-25 artisans are busy making PPE kits at a unit in Patia locality of the city. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak, these craftsmen were engaged in traditional works like embroidery and garment making to meet the demands of the fashion world.
Now, they are working to ensure protection of frontline corona warriors like doctors and health workers by making protective gears for them.
“We have been in the business of Banarasi saree for generations. When the Covid-19 lockdown hit our trade, I thought of making PPE kits. We started working in this direction with the help of the industry department,” unit owner Govind Agrawal told TOI on Wednesday.
“We utilized our existing manpower as they are skilled in making readymade garments and sent seven samples to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing and approval. All the samples were approved,” he said.
“The samples were also certified by SIPRA Lab.
We manufacture over 200 PPE kits per day and can make more as per demand. Presently, we have a stock of 3,000 kits,” Agrawal said.
Since there was shortage of PPE kits, the industry department encouraged Agrawal.
“It is the first DRDO certified unit manufacturing PPE kits in the whole eastern UP. The DRDO certification is essential for manufacturing PPE kits for government use,” said joint commissioner, industries, Umesh Singh.
“The unit can manufacture 5,000 PPE kits in a month and can increase it to 10,000 per month.
Process is underway to get the unit registered with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for supply to government hospitals,” he added.
“We manufacture over 200 PPE kits per day and can make more as per demand. Presently, we have a stock of 3,000 kits,” Agrawal said.
“We imported a taping machine from Taiwan for this purpose. We will supply the PPE kits at a reasonable price within Rs. 500. Since starting this work, we are also feeling that we are contributing to the battle against coronavirus pandemic,” said Agrawal.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app