Coronavirus Delhi: All the masks were stitched by CR Park resident Laxmi
A 24-year-old man and his mother in south Delhi have been making and distributing free masks to the poor as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the national capital.
Under an initiative that they have called "Pick One, Stay Safe", cinematographer Sourav Das and his mother, Laxmi, have so far distributed over 2,000 masks, all stitched by her. Laxmi is a homemaker.
"These are reusable cotton masks. Every day, around 25-40 masks are made and put into boxes at five locations at Chittaranjan Park," said Mr Das.
He said they want to ensure the poor can use mask without spending a rupee.
Sourav Das has distributed some masks among construction workers
The boxes in which these masks are put have been designed by Mr Das himself to ensure contactless access. Four of the five boxes have been placed in markets.
Mr Das has distributed some masks among construction workers and people whose shanties were destroyed in a major fire in south Delhi's Tughlakabad earlier this month.
Laxmi sews the masks during her free time. Mr Das' uncle has been providing cotton cloth for making the masks.
The initiative has been welcomed by people in the neighbourhood.
"Since masks are a must these days, I ask customers who forget their masks to take one from the box," says Naveen Chandrasheel, who runs a salon at Chittaranjan Park and has a mask vending box near his shop.
Shankar Mondal, who runs a departmental store in the area, tells his customers the same thing. Whenever someone comes to his shop without mask, he asks them to take one from the box.