At a time when the entire world is reeling under the fear of COVID-19 pandemic, former female ULFA cadres have found a new way to earn their livelihood by making masks.
Apart from selling the masks in the general market(s), these former ULFA cadres have sold the masks to the Army as well.
Reportedly, a number of these former cadres have sold over a 1,000 masks to the Army so far, especially to the 14 Garhwal Regiment of the Army posted in Darrang district.
These women have known the art of weaving since their childhood, but they took it as a mean of livelihood only after leaving the ULFA.
Every year during Rongali Bihu, these women weave over a 1,000 traditional Assamese gamosas and during the COVID-19 pandemic they took their skills to the next level and stitched these face masks.
Each mask has been sold to the Army unit provided at Rs 20 and this has helped the women to earn their livelihood.