Women manufacture kanthas at Sonari. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Nov. 3: The monsoon in Bihar may have been merciless, but the winter sure will be less treacherous if a city-based NGO has its way.

New Education and Environment Visions (Neev) has tied up with a New Delhi-based NGO, Goonj, to make kanthas or handmade quilts that will be distributed for free among flood victims in the neighbouring state.

Neev director Shikha Jain said many clothes were collected for the victims but a considerable number did not reach them. The NGOs have decided to use those clothes to make the kanthas.

“There were many clothes that could not be send. As winters are approaching we have thought of using these clothes to make kanthas. These clothes were collected for them and if not as clothes it will be used it is atleast being used in some other way. Kanthas will address their immediate requirement,” said Shikha Jain.

The NGO has a target of making 1,000 kanthas which can be increased if more clothes are donated. About 800 kanthas will be made by kantha makers with the help of machine in Sonari and the remaining 200 will be made by rural women in the villages of Hurlung and Khakripara.

Torn towels, bedsheet, saris and cottons would be used to stuff the kanthas.

The idea of making quilt crossed the minds of the NGO workers as they wanted to help the kantha makers with employment and income. Some 20 families are employed by the Neev to make them.

The NGO workers also believe that through the activity the dying tradition of kantha making would also get the much-needed boost.

The majority of funds for the NGO workers come from well-wishers settled abroad but to help the flood-hit victims, the organisation has created a portal www.amazon.com/paypage/P1UY7M0KYQYFA3 where they are asking for help from people to donate generously for the Bihar victims. After the kanthas are made, Goonj will take the products to the victims in Bihar.