MYSURU:Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to use Indian paper and ink to print currency notes has risen the hopes of Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), a government of Karnataka undertaking which makes voters’ ink. It is knocking at the Prime Minister’s Office seeking licence to manufacture the currency ink.
The Reserve Bank of India that prints the currency notes at its printing presses in Mysuru, Solbani (near Kolkata) and in Nagpur, imports ink and paper to print Indian currency.
Ananthu, MPVL chairman, said he had sought the appointment of the Prime Minister to put forth his case and get permission for manufacturing the ink.
He recalled Modi’s statement “the indelible ink is supplied by MPVL, but the ink used to print currency notes is imported. The image of Mahatma Gandhi on the notes is printed using a foreign ink”, made during an election rally.
MPVL already has the distinction of producing indelible ink used to mark a voter’s fingernail. It is the sole manufacturer of this ink in the country. This ink has been used in every election in India since 1961.
MPVL has also supplied the ink to other countries on the Election Commission’s request. However, it has maintained the secrecy of the formula for preparing this ink. MPVL is keen to strengthen the research and development wing and expand its unit if the Finance Ministry approves.
CM’s Direction: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the government departments to purchase paints and varnish from MPVL. The unit that manufactures industrial coatings like polyurethane paints, epoxy paints and chemical-resistant paints has decided to double the production to meet the demand.
MPVL marketing manager Harakumar said there is a proposal to modernise the units to produce exterior and interior paints to compete with private players. He said that they had introduced a brush to leave a mark of indelible ink and are now working on a sketch pen which will be demonstrated before the Election Commission soon.