New Delhi: In its first step towards a “self-reliant” India, all canteens of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) across the country will sell only swadeshi goods from 1 June 2020, Home Minister Amit Shah announced Wednesday.
The decision comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of a “self-reliant India” and emphasised on promoting local products made in India, in his address to the nation.
“Today the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has decided that all CAPF canteens and stores will only sell swadeshi goods that are manufactured in India from 1 June. This will be applied to all canteens across the country,” Shah said in a statement.
The CAPFs include CRPF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, and BSF.
The MHA later clarified that products of multinational companies being made in India will also be allowed in these canteens.
“There are many products that are produced in India by companies based abroad. Many foreign companies have their plants here in India, just like Pepsi. Also, there are many products that come from abroad but are bottled or assembled here,” an officer from one of the forces said.
“Most of the electronic goods including our phones, refrigerators etc., come from China, Singapore, Japan. All these are also sold in canteens,” he added.
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Sales in canteen amount to Rs 2,800 crore
Shah further said that the total earnings of products sold in CAPF canteens amounts to around Rs 2,800 crore, and by making sale of swadeshi goods mandatory, over 50 lakh family members of almost 10 lakh CAPF personnel will start using swadeshi products.
Shah also appealed to the nation to use products that are made in India, which will help India become self-reliant in the next five years.
“I appeal and encourage people to use products that are made in India and also encourage others to do it,” he stated.
“This is not the time to stay behind but turn crisis into opportunity. If every Indian starts using swadeshi goods, in the next five years, our country will become self reliant,” he said.
“Come, let us all use swadeshi goods and strengthen PM Modi in this journey of self-reliant India,” he said.
(The report has been updated with the MHA’s clarification that products of multinational companies that are made in India will also be sold at CAPF canteens.)
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Army canteen announcement has already been made. Why only Baba Ramdev Products? Materials produced by Marico,,Godrej,Wipro, etc are also swadeshi. Any thing produced & made in India are welcome.to be bought by Indians.
What about army canteen? And Rafael fighter jets?
All the MPs and MLAs must be supplied with items from Baba Ramdev’s products.
If they are not using them, they should lose their membership