With the need of using protective masks to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus growing, people in Assam are engaged in stitching face masks from the traditional Assamese gamosa and various other cloth materials.
Many women in Assam have come forward to challenge the unavailability of masks in the markets. People are busy in making masks not only for themselves but also for those who are in need.
Comprehending the need of the hour, even college and school teachers have come forward to extend their helping hand to the society by making masks from gamosa and other cloths and distributing them to the needy free of cost.
In one such instance, two faculty members of Jagannath Barooah College in Upper Assam’s Jorhat, are utilizing this lockdown phase to continue with their contribution towards the society not only through imparting education through online classes but also through making face masks and distributing among the needy.
“As gamosa is a part and parcel of every Assamese household and available all around the year, they can be easily used for stitching out masks which can reused after washing properly unlike the disposable ones,” says Nandini Choudhury, who teaches English at JB college.
Being inspired by the idea after watching it on the news channels, Choudhury said that gamosa masks can be made at home by following very simple and easy steps.
So far she has made more than 60 masks and distributed them free of cost to the needy and planning to make more during these days.
Maintaining unanimity with this noble idea, Minakshi Hazarika, another teacher at JB College, is equally engaged in making face masks out of gamosa and other cloth materials and helping people overcome the scarcity of masks in the markets of Jorhat.
Hazar ika teaches Geography at JB College.
Gamosa masks that have gained much popularity in the markets of Assam have turned out to be very handy and comfortable as the material is not harsh on the skin.
These handwoven traditional towels have turned out to be the most convenient and acceptable face covers to combat the deadly virus.