On June 24, 2021, INSEC, All People’s Development Centre, Sahaj Project- VSO, Women’s Human Rights Defenders Network, Single Women’s Group, Green Nepal, Nepal Police, Kalyan Post Daily and Corona Facilitation Network Saptari has set up a Mask Bank with the assistance of UKAID. After the ease of the prohibitory order, the market and the streets have started crowding due to which the bank was established.
Chief District Officer Phanindra Mani Pokhrel inaugurated the program organized for the establishment of Mask Bank. He said that the establishment of Mask Bank would help in reducing the cases of COVID-19 as the pandemic was still ongoing and alarming.
He further added, ‘it would be more effective if the initiation is expanded to all the local levels in the district.’
Anita Devkota, chairperson of Single Women’s Group, Province 2, and Sushma Gupta of Sahaj Project, Saptari, said that the Mask Bank was set up to distribute it to the general public who do not wear masks due to lack of awareness and financial resources.
They informed that the Mask Bank, which was set up under the slogan ‘Please provide if you have and take it if you don’t ’, will be carried out alternately at various local levels including Rajbiraj Municipality.
According to the directives from the administration all the government offices, banks, financial institutions remain open from June 22. Also, many people are seen getting back to their business as private vehicles are operating on the basis of the odd-even system and shops including groceries, stationery and construction materials are open from 10 am to 7 pm.
More than 200 people benefitted from the program from the campaign at Gajendra Chowk in Rajbiraj.
Awareness against gender-based violence and leaflets to prevent the pandemic of Covid-19 was also distributed at Mask Bank.