Gadkari to launch ‘India’s 1st cow dung paint’

New Delhi: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission will launch an eco-friendly and non-toxic paint with anti-bacterial properties on Tuesday.

The ‘Khadi Prakritik Paint’ is a first-of-its-kind product based on cow dung as its main ingredient. It is cost-effective as well as odourless and has been certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The paint will be launched by Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari.

“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 Monday. KVIC described the Khadi Prakritik Paint as ‘India’s first cow dung paint’.

The paint, with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic and cadmium. 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.

In October 2019, Gadkari launched soaps made of cow dung made by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.