Recycling used military uniform to help needy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

With large stacks of military uniform awaiting “graceful” disposal, a retired Army officer has set up an NGO, Sewaj Neesim Foundation, which collects used uniform and uses it to prepare blankets, schoolbags, masks, aprons, bibs and other useful items.

Maj Gen Ashim Kohli (retd) says, “We have so far collected 4,000 pairs of uniform, but the work was affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

An associated NGO is getting the stitching work done from women working from homes in slum areas. It has employed nearly 10 women in NCR and another seven in Pune.

The NGO aims to collect old uniform from across the country. The products made from recycled cloth would be donated to the needy, especially in children and old-age homes.

Maj Gen Kohli says, “The military uniform cannot be thrown away or given to the poor as non-authorised persons are allowed to wear it or may misuse it. We thus came up with this idea of gracefully disposing of the uniform.”