Jitendra Kumar Gupta, Zonal Dy. Chief Executive Officer, KVIC, and Biju K. Sam, Commandant, Assam Rifles, signed the MoU in the presence of KVIC Chairman, Manoj Kumar. The development follows Home Minister Amit Shah's directive to paramilitary forces to promote local products to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan." Narayan Rane, Minister of MSME, welcomed the move.
Amit Shah had also mandated that all CAPF canteens in India sell only "Swadeshi" products. The Assam Rifles will soon place an order for 458 quintals of high-quality kachhi ghani mustard oil, valued at approximately Rs. 2.71 crores, to be supplied by KVIC during 2022-23.
The Expressed Mustard Oil will be packed in a 15 kg square ISI marked tin that conforms to BIS specification No IS: 10325-2000 and a 01 Litre Pet Bottle that conforms to BIS/FSSAI norms as they apply in PAN India.
The KVIC shall supply Mustard oil in accordance with the relevant FSSAI Standards. A Board of Officers appointed by the DG, Assam Rifles, will inspect the quality of mustard oil at the consignee's door.
Mustard oil will have a "Shelf Life" of approximately nine (09) months from the date of supply at Assam Rifles for soundness, wholesomeness, and fitness for human consumption.
KVIC will provision supply within 45 days of the Assam Rifles issuing a supply order. On a freight-paid basis, stores must be dispatched by road/rail transport only to five destinations: (1) Shillong, 2) Dimapur, 3) Mantripukhri (Imphal), 4) Silchar, and 5) Jorhat (all MGARs of Assam Rifles).
While thanking the Home Minister for his initiative, KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar said the MoU was a historic step because it is only the second time KVIC has signed a deal with paramilitary forces for material supply. He described it as a significant step toward creating long-term local employment in these difficult times.
The KVIC and the Assam Rifles have signed a one-year agreement that will be renewed. Notably, the KVIC recently supplied CAPF canteens with honey, pickles, edible oils, agarbatti, papad, amla candy, and cotton towels, among other things.
