Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, May 1: Families of police personnel serving under Mangaluru city police commissionerate have taken up the initiative of stitching washable mask for 2,000 police personnel at police lane, Pandeshwar.

As many eight women associated with Jnanodhaya Mahila Mandala, Police Welfare Centre at police lane, Pandeshwar, are stitching washable masks. The initiative is led by Bhageerathi, Susheela, Sunitha, Poornima, Poornima Ravi Kumar, Nethravathi, Tanuja and Asha.

The women started stitching masks from April 24 with a target of stitching 10,000 masks. They stitch 75-80 masks per day and so far have stitched 3,000 masks.

Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar, who visited the visited the women and took a look at the masks, said, “The families of police personnel were earning money through embroidery, art and tailoring. Due to lockdown, they were unable to earn money. There are 2,000 police personnel under Mangaluru commissionerate limits. We decided to give five masks to each police officer which takes the count up to 10,000. The families of the police personnel have voluntarily come forward to stitch washable masks for the cops. When we see them wearing different coloured masks, it looks odd with the uniform. Hence, we gave khaki materials required for the mask and the women are stitching the same. After reaching the target of 10,000, we will place orders depending upon the requirement of masks. The group decided to stitch the masks for free for the police personnel as they are work relentlessly during this pandemic. But we will give certain amount for the women as appreciation.”