<span style="color: #222222;">In Madhya Pradesh, the state government has planned to procure 50 lakh low cost cotton masks and make them available at fair price shops to contain the spread of coronavirus. A decision on this was taken during a meeting called by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the state's preparations to fight against COVID-19 yesterday.<br />'' <br />'' The masks will be made available at all ration shops covered under the public distribution system (PDS). The preparation of masks would also provide employment to women. In the first phase of the initiative, the government will procure 50 lakh cotton masks, which will not only be cost effective but also reusable after washing, he said.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Women of urban areas, who wish to engage themselves in the mask-making activity, can get themselves registered with the government and secure an order to make 1,000 masks. After reporting seven new corona infected patients in Indore, the number of infected people in the state has increased to 1414, while 74 people have lost their lives so far.</span><br />