It is the second order from the NGO in less than a month with the previous one being of 1.80 lakh face masks.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has received an order to produce 10.5 lakh high-quality face masks which happens to be the biggest order which Khadi has ever received. A report published in Zee News has said that the Indian Red Cross Society has given Khadi this order which is worth Rs. 3.30 crores.

The report said that it is the second order from the NGO in less than a month with the previous one being of 1.80 lakh face masks. Khadi has supplied 1.60 lakh masks already and the rest will be delivered soon.

KVIC in a statement on August 31 said that the order was received this week and the supply will start soon.

“The new purchase order worth Rs 3.30 crore have been received recently and the supply will begin this week only. KVIC will complete the supply of the first order in a couple of days,” it said.

The statement also said that the masks that are to be made will be similar to those which were supplied as per the first order by the Indian Red Cross Society.

“The fresh order from IRCS is a result of the excellent quality and timely supply of masks by KVIC,” the statement added.

KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena also welcomed the latest order by saying that it will boost employment and bring money to Khadi artisans.

“Charkha is the tool of economic freedom. Such big orders during these difficult times will ensure that spinning and weaving activities keep going on and bringing economic sustainability to our Khadi artisans,” he said.

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari also lauded the efforts of KVIC saying that it will help in creating sustainable employment. He said that this order will create large-scale employment for the artisans.

The order is likely to give employment to 50,000 new artisans. The order will require 1 lakh meters of handmade cloth giving employment to people involved in spinning and weaving activities.

According to the statement given by KVIC, it is the biggest order received so far. Before that, the highest order was placed by the Jammu and Kashmir government which purchased around 7 lakh masks during the lockdown. KVIC has been a masks provider for government ministries.

It has received orders from Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister’s Office, Central government ministries, and orders from the general public through KVIC’s E-portal.