The proverb 'Where there is a will, there is a way' perfectly encapsulates the compassion and dedication of a 24-year-old student-turned-entrepreneur from Jammu, in the difficult period amid COVID-19 crisis.
Hailing from Bhaderwah town of Doda district, Arjun Singh, presently putting up in Jammu, has come up with a noble idea to meet a shortage of masks with the help of a group of tailors but is still awaiting a response from the Jammu and Kashmir Government on sale of cotton masks on nominal rates, which he got stitched in bulk.
Arjun Singh said, "A few days back when some positive cases of Corona Virus started reporting in J&K, I went to the market to purchase the mask from a chemist shop but it took me by surprise when the mask, that hardly costs Rs 30, was being sold almost on double rates." "It was a nylon mask and people were being looted," he rued and expressed, "the situation shattered me and at the same time, it inspired me. I thought of getting own cotton masks stitched with the help of local tailors."
"Cotton masks are much better than those made of Nylon, Polypropylene and Polyester available in the market," he said and added that he researched a lot on the manufacturing of masks on the internet and consulted many people telephonically before going ahead with the project.
"I purchased a cotton cloth and some elastic thread. The material was handed over to the tailors with some instructions and finally, it happened," he expressed and said that some of the masks were distributed among his friends for feedback."
One of my friends Manoj Padha supported me in this project as the feedback with regard to quality and hygiene of the mask was overwhelming," said the entrepreneur, adding that bulk of masks in a healthy environment, taking care of hygiene, were stitched by the tailors he had hired.
"Tailors while stitching masks took care of proper hygiene and cleanliness," he added and said that the masks are affordable, effective, made of high-quality cotton, absorbs moisture and can be used in all weather conditions and temperatures.
"We tried to approach the district administration but due to lockdown, could not and also raised the concern on social media but the response is yet awaited," said Singh adding that he is facing problem in procuring the raw material especially when he wants to contribute to the society in this need of the hour by his innovation that too on nominal rates.
"I hope that the administration takes up my concern seriously and help me positively and wish someone approaches me with an investment so that my dream of serving people with a quality get wings, especially at this juncture when the world is fighting with the pandemic.
