Tailor Salim Javed, who has a shop in Galudih, didn’t earn a single penny since the lockdown came into force.

However, he has managed to turn adversity into an opportunity with little help from a school headmaster.

Salim has already earned Rs 7,000 in around 14 days by making cotton masks for social outfits and residents of the locality.

Sajid Ahmed, headmaster of the Upgraded Middle School at Dhatkidih in Ghatshila, gave him the idea and he picked up the mask-making process by watching YouTube videos and the content on Aarogya Setu app.

“I have a five-member family and was finding it hard to support it when my income stopped completely. I used to earn Rs 6,000- 8,000 per month and the lockdown had landed me in deep trouble. That’s when Sajid sir shared the idea of making masks,” Salim, who stitches men’s garments, said.

Sajid himself had tried his hand at masking masks when he realised they were in great demand and being sold at a price of Rs 20-30 apiece.

When he failed to make masks himself, he shared the idea with Salim who he thought could cash in on his skills.

It took a day for Salim to pick up the process.

Initially, Sajid provided around two metres of cotton cloth from which Salim made 14 double-layered masks.

Local residents and social outfits who wanted to distribute masks among the needy came to know about Salim through word of mouth and began placing orders.

Salim charges Rs 7 per mask and Rs 5 if people provide him with the cloth.

The masks are nine inch in length and six inches wide.

“I saw him facing a financial crisis. As a tailor, he used to make both ends meet, byt fell on hard times after his shop closed down after the lockdown. I gave him the idea to help him earn something during this time of great distress. Now his masks are in great demand. I am happy that he is earning money by using his skills for the right thing at the right time,” Sajid said.