We have seen vending machines dish out condoms and sanitary napkins. It's now the turn of face masks to be delivered through vending machines. Making it affordable is the Tuticorin administration in Tamil Nadu.

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The town has reportedly installed vending machines so that its residents can easily buy face masks for Rs 5 each. So far, two vending machines have been put up.

The municipal corporation had bought hree machines from a manufacturer of sanitary napkin vending machines. The masks being dished out are triple-layer masks.

Each of the machine costs Rs 22,500, which makes it somewhat expensive for local bodies, which are hard-pressed for funds, to replicate the experience.

When governments are involved and where a product is available for a subsidised price, quality gets affected usually. But the Tuticorin example seems to be a bit different.