Government launches India’s first eco-friendly cow dung paint

The Union minister for road transport and highways, MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari on January 12, 2021, launched 'Khadi Prakritik Paint'. The first-of-its-kind environment-friendly paint developed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission. It is made out of cow dung and has significant properties of antifungal, antibacterial, non-toxic, odorless ness, and washable paint. It dries up in just 4 hours. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission told the media that the paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and others.

'Khadi Prakritik Paint', the paint based on its main ingredient as cow dung is cost-effective. Utilizing cow manure will clean the environment and prevent the stopping up of drains. The cow manure-based paint has been tried-out by national laboratories in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Ghaziabad. It is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The paint is accessible in two forms:

1. Distemper which is priced at Rs 120 per Litre and 

2. Plastic emulsion paint is priced at Rs 225 per Litre.

KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) portrayed the Khadi Prakritik Paint as 'India's first cow dung paint'. The statement adds, "This development will grow the use of cow manure as a raw material for eco-friendly products and will create additional income for farmers and gaushalas. This is estimated to produce extra pay of Rs 30,000 (roughly) per annum per animal to farmers/gaushalas.” It will assist local manufacturing and create sustainable employment through technology transfer.

The Union minister, Nitin Gadkari said that the eco-friendly paint is an effort to strengthen and lift up the village economy by creating additional revenue for livestock farmers. It will achieve reverse migration from urban communities to rural regions.

Cow dung is viewed as plentiful in minerals and eco-friendly, that is the reason it is utilized to make cleansers, candles, and oil lights that have effectively invaded the Indian market. In rural regions of the nation, cow's excrement is utilized to cover the floors and walls of people's homes to make them insect-free.