Archery Association Secy converts his factory into PPE manufacturing unit

In normal times, his factory would be producing thousands of bows and arrows but in a COVID-19 world, Archery Association of India secretary general Pramod Chandurkar and his staff are devoted in manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits on a war-footing.

The 56-year-old has about 30 employees on the job as they are making face masks, gloves and gowns for the frontline workers.

His factory manufactures about 1000 PPE gowns, which are supplied to his friend's company for wholesale distribution.

Chandurkar, who coached India team to the Asian Cup gold in 1989, also owns a company, Ruth India, which manufactures archery equipment and sportswear.

"Everyone is doing their bit to serve the country when the lockdown started. I had a full fledged stitching set-up so I thought why not use this infrastructure in making PPE gowns," Chandurkar, who participated in the 1976 National Games and the 1982 Asian Games, told PTI.

"I got in touch with my friend (who is a medical kit supplier) and his company provided us the guidelines on how to make PPE gowns from plastic-laminated non-woven cloth. The raw materials are being supplied by him. We have been working non-stop since then. This is my way of serving the country in this trying times."