Nitin Gadkari Launches Cost Effective, Cow Dung-Based Paint

Developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission, India’s first cow dung-based paint, a first-of-its-kind product, with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties was launched by MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Pointing out that the paint is priced at only Rs 120 per litre for the distemper, and Rs 225 per litre for the emulsion, Gadkari said this is less than half the price charged by big paint companies.

The paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and others. It will provide a boost to local manufacturing and will create sustainable local employment through technology transfer.

He said that at least five crore new jobs will be created in the MSME sector and the export share of Indian MSMEs will be increased from current 48 per cent to 60 per cent in order to achieve the target of a $5 trillion dollar economy.

"Very soon a policy will be framed for sharing the technical knowhow of Khadi Prakritik Paint to maximum number of people in India," he said, adding that Khadi and Village Industries Commission will provide technical training to new entrepreneurs who could benefit by manufacturing cow dung paint.

Gadkari further said that thousands of Prakritik paint manufacturing units can be set up across the country that will give a big boost to the country's agro-based economy.

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 colour by suitably mixing colorants.

Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Chairman KVIC Vinai Kumar Saxena were also present at the event.