50 units to be set up to make cow dung paint in Vid

Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s office is aiming to set up 50 plants for producing an eco-friendly, non-toxic paint from cow dung named ‘Khadi Prakritik Paint’.
On Tuesday, the minister virtually inaugurated the model plant in Jaipur, set up by the Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, an autonomous body under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
“About 30 students from the region had already taken up training at Jaipur where the first plant was set up. Another batch’s training is already under way. In the first three months, we’re targeting 50 plants in Vidarbha and have already placed orders for 12 units. Our office would be directly monitoring the setting up of such plants and would be providing help to the youth,” Gadkari’s advisor Sudhir Diwe told TOI.
The ministry would be helping the youth to get loans under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, where they get a subsidy of 25% in urban areas and 35% in rural.
Speaking at the inaugural function, the city MP hoped to set up such factories in over 6.5 lakh villages across the country which he said would boost the rural economy. He also ordered 500 litres of distemper and emulsion for painting his entire building near Hotel Radisson Blu from inside and outside. Gadkari assured the KVIC to become a brand ambassador of the product., according to Diwe.
Explaining the advantages of the unique paint, Diwe said it was made up of 30% of cow dung and is 60% cheaper in comparison to other brands. “Since the cow dung is available in ample quantities, the manufacturing unit could be set up in rural areas. It would ease the burden from the urban areas and generate a lot of employment in villages. Additionally, the cattle wouldn’t be sent to slaughterhouses due to the demand for cow-dung and thus would be saved,” he said.
According to him, the plant requires an investment of just Rs 12-Rs15 lakh and could be set up in a small area of 1,500 sq feet. “We will help the youth in arranging 90% funds on loan if they are willing to invest 10% which is just Rs 2.5 lakh. Their products would be purchased by the KVIC and would be sold across their stores in India. They can also sell their products independently. During the inauguration, the minister said he felt happier this time than opening the Worli-Bandra Sea Link and Mumbai-Pune Express highway,” the advisor said.