Keypoints:
- The ‘Khadi Prakritik Paint’ is a first-of-its-kind product based on cow dung as its main ingredient.
- The paint with anti fungal and anti bacterial properties, is free from heavy metals.
- In October 2019, Gadkari launched soaps made of cow dung made by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
On January 12, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission has launched an eco friendly and non toxic paint with minimal anti bacterial properties.Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari launched the paint. The paint has been described as “India’s first cowdung paint” by the KVIC.
The paint is proven to be cost effective as well as odourless and has been certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Adding to this, the “Khadi Prakritik Paint” is one of its kind product and is has cowdung as its main ingredient.
“Khadi Prakritik Paint is available in two forms—distemper paint and plastic emulsion paint. Production of Khadi Prakritik Paint is aligned with the prime minister’s vision of increasing farmers’ income,” an official statement said on January 11.
The paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic and cadmium. Also, it consists of anti fungal and anti bacterial properties. It is expected to boost local manufacturing and create sustainable local employment through technology transfer.
“This technology will increase the consumption of cow dung as a raw material for eco-friendly products and will generate additional revenue to farmers and gaushalas. This is estimated to generate additional income of Rs 30,000 (approximately) per annum per animal to farmers/gaushalas,” the statement added.
Pointing out that the paint is priced at only Rs. 120 per litre for the distemper and Rs.225 per litre for the emulsion, Gadkakri said this is less than half the price charged by big paint companies.Stressing that the role of the government is only that of a facilitator, he said the paint will be marketed in a professional manner, and taken to all corners of the country.
Khadi Prakritik Paint is available in two forms – distemper paint and plastic emulsion paint.
Khadi Prakritik Distemper & Emulsion Paints have been tested at 3 reputed National Laboratories- National Test House, Mumbai, Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, New Delhi National Test House, Ghaziabad.
It dries in less than 4 hours, and has a smooth and uniform finish. The paint can be applied on interior as well as exterior walls. Both distemper and emulsion paints are available in white base colour, and it can be developed in any color by suitably mixing colorants.
