In Swadeshi Rush, CAPF Canteens Mistakenly Include Indian Brands Like Dabur, Bajaj Among 1000 Foreign Companies To Be Junked

Indian companies such as Dabur and Bajaj added to list of 'foreign products' banned from being sold in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Police Canteens (CPCs) canteens.

Image used only for representational purpose/ (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY / AFP)

New Delhi: To give a boost to domestic production and India made products Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had decided last month that from June 1 only 'Swadeshi goods' will be sold in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Police Canteens (CPCs) canteens. But the list prepared by the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) which runs paramilitary canteens across the country also included several Indian companies such as Dabur and Bajaj. According to a report by IANS, the list had 1,026 items which included companies like Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Acetron Enterprise Pvt Ltd, Bagzone Lifestyle Pvt Ltd, Borosil Glass Works Ltd and even Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Blue Star Ltd, Cavinkare Pvt Ltd, Skechers, Ferraro India and Redbull India. Products by Victorinox and Safilo (Polaroid) were also included in the list of products banned from being sold at the central paramilitary force canteens. The Centre has now put on hold the list and said that it was ‘erroneously’ made by the KPKB. "This is clarified that the list issued by the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar on May 29, 2020 regarding delisting of certain products has been erroneously issued at the level of CEO. The list has been withdrawn and action is being initiated for the lapse," the CRPF DG and Chairman, Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB), A.P. Maheshwari said in a statement. The report also said that the KPKB divided all products into three categories. Category 1 which will be products ‘Purely Made in India', Category 2 will mean ‘raw materials imported' but products manufactured or assembled in India, while Category 3 will refer to ‘Purely Imported Products'. Products falling under Category 1 and Category 2 will be allowed to be on the KPKB inventory while those falling under Category 3 will be de-listed sale will not be allowed. According to a PTI report, the order said the rejection or de-listing of non-swadeshi goods is done by the canteen board “on the sole basis of information submitted by the firms”. The move to sell only 'Made in India' products in the paramilitary canteens followed PM Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ appeal wherein he wants people to buy local products and be vocal about doing so. One of the industries to benefit from this order is Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). According to a report, products such as khadi kurtas, cotton jackets, honey, mustard oil, and other eatables were among 13 products which KVIC delivered as the first consignment of 'swadeshi products' to five CAPF canteens in Delhi KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said in a report by IANS, "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.” Also Watch:UK to trial five new drugs to find Coronavirus vaccine