GUWAHATI: Students in Arunachal Pradesh will be literally wearing nationalism on their masks as the state government has purchased 60,000 khadi tricolour masks ahead of reopening of schools from November 16.
Aiming to instil a sense of nationalism among the students of the frontier state, the purchase order issued by the state government to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), reads: “The government of Arunachal Pradesh has decided to open schools for class 10th and 12th from 16th November 2020, and also accorded approval for procurement of 60,000 khadi cotton face masks from KVIC for the school children.”
The ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, in a statement, said, “Thousands of school children in Arunachal Pradesh will be sporting tri-color khadi face masks as they return to their schools for the first time post Covid-19 lockdown. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has supplied 60,000 high quality khadi cotton face masks for school children as the Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to reopen schools from November 16.”
The statement added, “This purchase order assumes great significance as this is for the first time that a state government in northeast India has purchased such a huge quantity of khadi face masks for its students. The purchase order was issued on November 3, and in just six days, KVIC has supplied the requisite masks to the government considering the urgency involved. In order to ensure timely delivery of masks, KVIC has dispatched the consignment by air.”
The ministry informed that the face masks in tricolor also aims at instilling a sense of nationalism among the students.
The commission has specifically used double-twisted khadi fabric for manufacturing of these masks as it helps retain 70% of the moisture content inside, while providing an easy passage for the air to pass through. These masks are, therefore, skin-friendly and suitable for use for long durations. Khadi masks are also washable, reusable and biodegradable, the ministry said.
Its chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena, said in the statement that the supply of face masks to Arunachal Pradesh government was accorded top priority as it was meant for the students who will be taking classes from November 16.