This story is from March 28, 2020

Jharkhand: SHG women lead supply line in coronavirus battle

Women from rural areas of Jharkhand are playing a key role as the state prepares to combat the threat of the novel coronavirus. From manufacturing hand sanitizers and masks to providing ration at the doorstep of primitive tribal groups and feeding the hungry, 2,500-odd women across all 24 districts are playing a pivotal role amid the lockdown.
Jharkhand: SHG women lead supply line in coronavirus battle
A woman lays out newly stitched masks to dry in Ranchi
RANCHI: Women from rural areas of Jharkhand are playing a key role as the state prepares to combat the threat of the novel coronavirus. From manufacturing hand sanitizers and masks to providing ration at the doorstep of primitive tribal groups and feeding the hungry, 2,500-odd women across all 24 districts are playing a pivotal role amid the lockdown.
These women, part of various self-help groups run by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), are working round-the-clock since the lockdown was imposed.
JSLPS is an arm of the state rural development department.
So far, they have produced closed to 78,000 masks and 13,000 bottles of alcohol-based sanitizers since March 22. While respective district administrations are helping them with space and infrastructure, BIT Mesra is giving them its chemical formula to produce sanitizers.
Sanitizers produced by the women are being sold at the premises of various district collectorates. On Friday, there were long queues at the sales counters at the Ranchi district collectorate building. Priced at Rs 20 per 100 ml bottle, the sanitizers were a runaway hit among denizens. Masks were going for Rs 10 each.
Ranchi DC Rai Mahimapat Ray said: "The masks and sanitizers produced by the women are proving to be helpful. Besides selling them on the collectorate premises, we are supplying the consignments to 17 subsidised medical stores (Dawai Dost) for greater outreach. Of them, three have already started the sales."
"In far-flung areas of Santhal Pargana, Palamu, Chatra and Latehar, the women are being deployed for doorstep delivery of foodgrain to PDS beneficiaries from particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG). The women have started subsidised kitchens in Chaibasa, Deoghar, Ranchi and Jamtara to provide meals to the poor, daily wagers and destitutes for Rs 10," Rajiv Kumar, the chief executive officer of JSPLS, said.
Kumar added, "These women are going around the villages across every block and creating awareness about Covid 19. They are taking stock of the houses where suspected cases are in quarantine and creating awareness among their neighbours asking them to stay away from the marked houses."
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