After Modi’s ‘Swadeshi’ Pitch, Paramilitary Canteens to Sell Only Locally Made Products from June 1

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday announced that all canteens of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF and the BSF will sell only indigenous products from June 1 to 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh personnel.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, Shah said the decision has been taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for opting for local products and being self-reliant.

Shah also appealed to the people of the country to make maximum use of the products made in the country and encourage others to do the same.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided that all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens will now sell only indigenous products. This will be applicable to all CAPF canteens across the country from 1 June 2020. With this, 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh CAPF personnel will use indigenous products," he said.

The CAPFs -- CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles -- canteens together sell products worth about Rs 2,800 crore annually.

Referring to PM Modi's appeal on Tuesday, during his address to the nation, to make the country self-reliant and use products made in India, Shah said this will surely pave the way for India to lead the world in future.

"If every Indian pledges to use products made in India (Swadeshi), the country can become self-sufficient in five years," he said.

In a televised address on Tuesday, PM Modi said that it has been local suppliers have met 'our demands' during this crisis and now Indians will have to be 'vocal about local' and buy products from them.

Spelling out the details of the self-reliance strategy, Modi it will depend on five pillars: growing a new economy, creating a state-of-the-art infrastructure, setting up a technology-based delivery system, leveraging the young demography and exploiting of domestic demand.

The Prime Minister’s push for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) amid coronavirus pandemic is being seen as an opportunity for RSS’ constant pitch for 'Swadeshi' model of development in the country.

Many top functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), including its chief Mohan Bhagwat, have been discussing since long about a post Covid-19 world order, which Prime Minister Modi also mentioned in his speech yesterday.

On April 26, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called the push for ‘self-reliance’ and ‘swadeshi’, the next stage of “national reconstruction”.

“'Self-reliance’ is the new mantra of development which implies economic system that is employable, energy efficient, and environment-friendly – this will be next stage of national reconstruction. Even during the crisis, some fundamental truths are being tested. We should also take the project of national reconstruction with the fundamental principle of self-reliance,” Bhagwat said, while talking about the need to inculcate ‘Swadeshi Sanskars’.