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New Delhi : The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has taken another big step towards making India “Aatmanirbhar” by joining hands with ITBP to supply mustard oil. On July 31, 2020, KVIC and ITBP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect. The MoU was signed by V K Nagar, Director, KVIC, and Rama Kant Sharma, DIG, ITBP, in the presence of KVIC Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena.
As per a statement of KVIC, the development comes in wake of the instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the paramilitary forces to encourage local products in a bid to support the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” initiated by PM Narendra Modi. Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari welcomed the move.
Shah had also made it mandatory to sell only Swadesh products through the CAPF canteens across India. The ITBP is the nodal agency appointed by MHA for the procurement of provisions on behalf of all paramilitary forces, according to a PIB release.
The ITBP will soon place an order for supply of 1,200 quintals of high quality kacchi ghani mustard oil which will be supplied by KVIC through its PMEGP units in a month’s time.
KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena while thanking the Union Home Minister for his initiative, said the MoU was a historic step as this is for the first time that KVIC has signed a deal with the paramilitary forces for supply of any material. He said this was a major step towards creating sustainable local employment in these trying times. “Providing best quality oil to our jawans guarding our borders, that too on time will be our top priority,” Saxena said.
The KVIC and ITBP have signed the MoU for a period of one year which will be renewed further. The next products in the pipeline are cotton mats (dari), blankets, bed-sheets, pillow covers, pickles, honey, papad and cosmetics, etc. The total value of oil and dari will be approximately Rs 18 crore.
Notably, the KVIC had recently supplied products like honey, pickles, edible oils, agarbatti, papad, amla candy, and cotton towels, etc. to CAPF canteens on trial basis. Further, a list of 63 new products is being prepared for adding to the supply basket.