Beginning sale of only indigenous goods from Monday across India -- a first-ever such step adopted so far -- the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) canteens received delivery of first "Swadeshi" items through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
Khadi kurta, cotton jackets, honey, mustard oil, Agarbatti, National flags and other eatables are among 13 products which KVIC delivered to five CAPF canteens in Delhi last Saturday.
KVIC has constituted a special team to look after CAPF supplies as it is entrusted to fulfil maximum demands in these establishments across the country.
The development comes within two weeks after Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued an order making it mandatory for CAPF canteens to sell only local products procured through KVIC. The order comes into effect from June 1 (Monday).
The supply order received by the KVIC also includes cotton towels, achar (pickles), agarbatti (incense sticks), papad, dalia (oatmeal), murabba and amla candy etc.
The KVIC has also received a list of 63 new products like Khadi clothes, woollens, cosmetics like herbal oils, shampoo, soaps, face wash, tea and coffee and others to be supplied at these canteens.
The move aims at promoting local products, empowering farmers and strengthening village industries to make India "Atmanirbhar", a call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said a KVIC statement.
KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said, "This will open new employment avenues for khadi artisans, Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) units and lakhs of people already engaged with KVIC programs in cottage and village industries."
"We have received the order from paramilitary canteens for supplying 13 products. The supply has already started. More products will be made available at these canteens in coming days," Saxena said.
With these supplies, the KVIC will add at least 40 lakh people from the families of over 10 lakh paramilitary personnel to its consumer base which will be a true reflection of 'vocal for locals'.
As a goodwill gesture, the KVIC has decided to supply products to the CAPF canteens at a small margin of 3 per cent only.
Notably, there are 20 master "bhandars" of these forces across the country with an annual turnover of over Rs 1,800 crore. The supplies of local products at CAPF canteens will also impact the production and sale of thousands of KVIC supported units.