ITBP partners with KVIC to procure products for its personnel

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has signed a deal with the KVIC in order to procure a variety of ‘swadeshi’ and ‘khadi’ goods for around 10 lakh personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces. The force will procure 1200 quintals of mustard oil from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) with a total financial outlay of Rs 1.73 crores.

Highlights

The deal has been signed between the two sides to increase the procurement of ‘swadeshi’ or indigenously made products. This comes after the announcement of the Union Home Minister in June that the CAPF canteens will sell only indigenous products from June. Apart from mustard oil, ITBP is also procuring durries, towels and blankets from the suppliers empanelled with KVIC. Approximately 2.5 lakh durries will be procured by ITBP at a cost of Rs 17 crores as the force is the nodal agency for procurement of durries for all the CAPFs coming under the central government.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police

The ITBP is a mountain-warfare trained force for guarding the 3488n km border with China known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It has become the first CAPF to start procuring only swadeshi items from the ITBP. Other Central Armed Police Forces in India are CRPF, CISF, BSF and the SSB.

What’s next?

The ITBP has suggested that yoga kits, hospital bed sheets, ‘khadi’ uniform, pickles and some other items can be purchased for the CAPF jawans through KVIC and the canteens are already selling some items from KVIC. These canteens with a network of 1700 stores do an estimated business of Rs 2800 crores annually by selling their products to 50 lakh family members.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020