Mysuru: Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), a government of Karnataka undertaking which is sole supplier of indelible ink during elections across the country has got orders from Ministry of Finance to supply 2,96,500 bottles of indelible ink each measuring 5ml.
Thanks to demonetization of higher value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations, the Finance ministry decided to apply ink on one finger of ech person exchanging currency notes over the counter. The government has directed banks to use indelible ink to mark customer’s fingers to stop multiple visits by same people. This has been done to deter miscreants who form groups of people to exchange their unaccounted money. Once the ink applied on fingers it will be there for nearly a month.
Ministry of Finance has given responsibility to Reserve Bank of India’s Bharatheeya Reserve Bank Note Mudranalaya Private Limited (BRBNMPL), Mysuru to distribute the ink to different banks and also to the other RBI regional centres across the country. On Wednesday, the BRBNMPL Mysuru has taken 30,000 of bottles each measuring 5ml. The available stock of ink has been given to some banks including BRBNMPL on Tuesday and full scale production commenced on Wednesday. Over 100 workers are working in shifts to meet the demand.
HA Venkatesh, Chairman, Mysore Paint and Varnishes Limited, confirmed, “This is for the first time we’re receiving requests for ink for non-election purpose. We have got communication from ministry of finance for supply of ink, based on their demand of 2.96lakh bottles of ink we are going all out in our effort to provide the same. The ministry also instructed us to give ink only to RBI in Mysuru who in turn will be distributing to various banks and also to RBI regional centres. Every day with 100 staff members we can manufacture 25,000 bottles, within six to seven days’ time we can supply the required demand. We have required staffs, raw materials and all latest equipment’s to meet the demands. In each 5ml ink bottle, the ink can be applied to nearly 500 people. Each 5ml ink bottle cost Rs 116. There is no credit system and it is only given after the payment is made.
MPVL has got indent of 5 lakh bottles of 10ml for the forthcoming assembly election in five states across the country: Assembly election for five states Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur has stated to be held in couple of months’ time. But all the five states have placed order for indelible inks. Uttar Pradesh has placed order for 3.40 ink bottles followed by Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa who have placed 52,000, 46,000, 7500 and 4000 bottles respectively.
Marker pen may reduce 50 percent costs on election commission
“Next month, the officials and chairman of MPVL will be attending meeting convened by the Election Commission. During the meeting they will take a decision whether to continue with bottle and brush or to replace the traditional inking method with marker pen. In the Kerala local body election, marker pen was used and the performance was well appreciated. The feedback among youths is also encouraging, that marking done by brush is not neat while in that of marker it is neat. The other advantage is that pens will be easier to store and transport than bottle. In a 5ml pen, it can be applied for more than 1000 people while 5ml bottle ink, it can be applied for 500 people” added Hara Kumar, General Manager.