Women at work producing masks (left) and distributing them to health workers (right).

AKDN

What are its objectives?/o:p

The main objective of Insha-e-Noor is to provide a sustained, enhanced and dignified source of income to its members – the women of Nizamuddin Basti. All the revenue from sales goes directly to the artisans and to the group./o:p

How many women work for Insha-e-Noor and what is their background?/o:p

Insha-e-Noor is associated to close to 100 women from Nizamuddin; and indirectly to many others who work at home after learning their skill from the centre. /o:p

Most of the members are women with low education and mobility and use their earnings from Insha-e-Noor to support their family income./o:p

What do you normally produce?/o:p

The women members of Insha-e-Noor learn and practice five crafts – embroidery, sanjhi (the art of paper cutting), crochet, garment construction and binding and packaging, under the supervision of dedicated instructors, and produce a range of beautiful handcrafted products marketed under the brand of Insha-e-Noor. /o:p

Most of the products of Insha-e-Noor are made using motifs inspired by the ensemble of Mughal monuments near Nizamuddin especially Humayun’s Tomb. /o:p

Recently, you switched production to protective face masks, how did that decision come about? Who are the face masks for?/o:p

With the onset of this global pandemic, there was a sudden shortage and hence demand for face masks. They were the need of the hour./o:p

Insha-e-Noor started producing cloth face masks a few days before complete lock down happened in Delhi, after which the members continued production from their home. The first batch was made for the construction workers, craftsmen, gardeners, security guards, health workers and others employed at different sites around the neighbourhood. /o:p

As the situation became worse and Nizamuddin was declared one of the ‘hot-spots’ of the disease in Delhi, Insha-e-Noor members began producing masks for the wider community. The masks are available for basti residents and homeless population, paid for by AKTC/AKDN, at various points in the area including at the community toilet, the school and ration shops./o:p

The masks are washable and reusable and made using colour fast, skin friendly, cotton material.