• An innovative new paint – India’s first cow dung paint -  developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission is launched.

    • The eco-friendly, non-toxic paint, called “Khadi Prakritik Paint” is a first-of-its-kind product, with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties.

    • Based on cow dung as its main ingredient, the paint is cost-effective and odorless, and has been certified by Bureau of Indian Standards.

    • The paint is priced at only Rs. 120 per litre for the distemper, and Rs.225 per litre for the emulsion, which is less than half the price charged by big paint companies.

    • Khadi Prakritik Paint is available in two forms – distemper paint and plastic emulsion paint.

    • The project was conceptualized by Chairman KVIC in March 2020, and later developed by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur (a KVIC unit).

    • The paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and others.

    • It will be a boost to local manufacturing and will create sustainable local employment through technology transfer.

    • This technology will  increase consumption of cow dung as a raw material for eco-friendly products and will generate additional revenue to farmers and gaushalas.

    • Utilization of cow dung will also clean the environment and prevent clogging of drains.

    • Khadi Prakritik Distemper & Emulsion Paints have been tested at 3 reputed National Laboratories

        ◦ National Test House, Mumbai

        ◦ Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, New Delhi

        ◦ National Test House, Ghaziabad

    • Khadi Prakritik Emulsion paint meets BIS 15489:2013 standards; whereas Khadi Prakritik Distemper paint meets BIS 428:2013 standards.

    • The paint has successfully passed various test parameters such as application of paint, thinning properties, drying time and finish, among others.

    • 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 color by suitably mixing colorants.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)