The Central paramilitary jawans will now use Khadi durries procured from KVIC as part of the vocal for local campaign. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for supplying 1,71,520 numbers of Khadi Durries for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The cotton khadi durries for CAPF jawans will be procured in a purchase order worth Rs 8. 73 crore. The ITBP has become the first paramilitary force among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to have supplies from the KVIC.

The MoU was inked by Vinay Kumar Saxena, Chairman, KVIC and Anand Swaroop, Inspector General of ITBP. Vivek Bharadwaj, Additional Secretary, Police Modernisation, Union Home Ministry also attended the event.

The ITBP had signed an agreement with the KVIC in July last year for procurement of 1,200 quintal of mustard oil with a total financial implication of `1.73 crore. It was decided during a meeting held at the  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Directors General of the CAPFs in October, 2019 that use of Terry Khadi uniform and other items of swadeshi origin should be made available to the CAPFs. The government was celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019.

During the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah in December, 2019 to the ITBP Force headquarters here, an exhibition stall was prepared to exhibit the KVIC products.

“The ITBP had suggested that durries, blankets, towels, mustard oil, yoga kit, hospital bed sheets, pickles and similar items can be purchased for jawans of the Force through KVIC,” ITBP Spokesperson Vivek Pandey said in a statement.

“The process of procuring khadi bed sheets and pillow covers from KVIC for all CAPF hospitals is also underway and it is expected that it will be procured in thisfinancial year itself. Many such items will be procured from the KVIC for promoting the local products in the CAPFs,” it added.