RK Trust unveils India’s first contactless vending machine dispensing free masks at KIA

Team Udayavani, Oct 13, 2020, 5:55 PM IST

Bangalore: “Let’s Mask India” the flagship programme of the RK Trust, recently installed a no-contact vending machine to dispense free masks, in the baggage carousel area, of Kempegowda International Airport. This joint initiative is part of Bengaluru International Airport’s “Let’s Mask India” campaign.

The contactless vending machine is a state-of-the-art, first of its kind vending machine completely manufactured in India. It works on motion detection technology dispensing a sanitized mask in a paper or Tyvek sleeve to the user. Contactless was the keyword behind the design and development of the vending machine to ensure complete user safety.

Philanthropist Ramesh Kumar P Shah, the founder of RK Trust, said “In times of national emergency, we citizens need to rise to the occasion and offer support in any way we can. As a textile entrepreneur with 40 years of experience, producing and donating high-quality masks to those who need them is our way of showing we care.’’

Let’s Mask India is a mission that aims at providing high-quality, made-in-India face masks to the neediest, thereby providing a livelihood to the garment workers who are manufacturing these masks. The mission was launched by Hon’ble CM BS Yeddyurappa on Jun 17, 2020.  Over 10 lakh masks have been donated to frontline workers, interstate travellers, orphanages, slums and many NGOs. 1 lakh masks were given to students who wrote the SSLC exams in June this year and this donation was made in partnership with Government of Karnataka as part of the “Let’s Mask India” mission.

The 3-ply washable cloth masks are manufactured at 8 factories across Bengaluru and are eco-friendly (compared to disposable medical masks) – as the user can wash and reuse these masks multiple times.