MHA tells CAPFs to adopt ‘swadeshi’ goods in canteens

Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for encouraging local products, Home Minister Amit Shah has made it mandatory for all canteens and stores of paramilitary forces to sell only “Swadeshi” products through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

The move will open great employment opportunities for farmers, unemployed youths and lakhs of people already engaged with cottage and village industries.  An order to this effect has been issued by the MHA on 15 May that will come into force from 1 June. Now only the Indian products will be sold through the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens which will be procured from KVIC.

The decision will also impact the production and sales of KVIC which will be fulfilling the majority of supplies at these stores. “The Khadi and Village industries Commission with 17 products has been registered with Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB)… Now the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has decided that only swadeshi products will be sold through KPKB Bhandars wef 1st June, 2020.

In view of the above, all Master Bhandars may place their demands directly to KVIC,” the order read. KVIC ChairmanVinai Kumar Saxena lauded the Home Minister’s decision saying this would provide a big boost to the cottage and village industries sector apart from the MSMEs units. “This decision will directly benefit lakhs of people engaged with manufacturing of various village industries products. With this order over 10 lakh personnel of the various paramilitary forces will be added to KVIC’s consumer base,” he said.

Currently, KVIC has registered 17 products for the supply to CAPF canteens. These include Khadi National Flag, eatables like honey, pickles, edible oils, agarbatti, papad, amla products and cotton towels, etc.