The Odra Foundation and designer
Manish Tripathi, in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Khadi & Village
Industries Board (UPKVIB), are on a mission to make the World’s Largest Mask, a
Guinness World Record attempt.
The team is collecting the fabric for
the mask from 10 different states, covering 10,000 kilometers. UPKVIB has also
handed over 2 meters of the Khadi cloth from each of 75 districts.
The collected cloth will be sewn
together to make the mask measuring more than 100 sq. meters to beat the
present world record of 72.29 sq. meters.
The raw material used for making the
mask will subsequently be upcycled to make alternate products with the Self
Help Groups which will be provided forward linkage to the market. The endeavour
is in consonance with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Khadi
for Nation, Khadi for fashion’ and his vision of a self-reliant India and would
contribute to the national movement of ‘Vocal For Local’ and ‘Aatma Nirbhar
Bharat’.
At an event held in Mumbai on 22
December, Satish Kaushik said,” It is so nice to see people like Manish
Tripathi who has been spreading awareness and doing their bit during pandemic
while we were all locked up inside. Getting rural women to come together to
make masks, is such a wonderful way to empower them. This also is a wonderful
way to get people together during such difficult times.”
Talking about the importance of
wearing mask, Kaushik added, “One needs to remember that by wearing mask you
are not only saving yourself but also the ones around you. We all should behave
responsibly.”
Talking about the affect of pandemic
on the film industry, Kaushik said, the pandemic has affected all of us, even
our Hindi Film Industry. Apart from being out of jobs since the films were not
releasing, we have lost so many people from our industry. People couldn’t even
attend the funerals because of restrictions. It was very disheartening. We
actors have tried in a small way to do things to cheer people by making content
that would bring smile on faces.”
Designer Manish Tripathi said, “We
started distributing free masks to community helpers during lockdown. We then
realised we also need to support people with their livelihood since pandemic
had affected everyone especially people below poverty line. Hence we started
our journey with rural women where we gave them training to stitch masks and
other products. The largest mask is a tribute to these women who connected with
us and are proudly contributing to their family income today”.
Actress Ishita Raj who was also
present added, “At times when people especially women felt so powerless, it is
heartening to see that such initiatives made them feel powerful.”
Mask has become a necessary part of
our lives and has played a vital role in curbing the spread of the corona virus.
Since the onset of COVID-19 outbreak India, designer Manish Tripathi has
employed and trained thousands of rural women for sewing the masks under his
initiative ‘Sheher Se Gaon Tak’.
UP CM Shri Yogi Adityanath would be
attending an event on 2nd January in Lucknow to unveil the mask for the world
record.