NEW DELHI : From microwave ovens to footwear and branded products like Tommy Hilfiger shirts – over 1000 imported products will now not be available at the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars (KPKB), the parent body that runs paramilitary canteens across India, which will sell only Swadeshi products from June 1.

This comes after the Union Home Ministry said only Made in India products will be sold in all KPKB canteens. Apart from this, seven firms importing products including Skechers, Ferrero, Red Bull, Victorinox, Safilo (Polaroid, Carrera) have also been delisted.

“In pursuance to the decision taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Swadeshi Goods only will be sold through KPKB Bhandars w.e.f. June 1, 2020.  The central police canteens sell products to cater almost 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh personnel serving in CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles.

According to official communication by the Home Ministry based on the information submitted by the firms, this office has categorized all listed products in three categories Category 1 – Products Purely Made in India, Category 2 -Raw Materials Imported but Products Manufactured/Assembled in India, and Category 3 – Purely Imported Products.
Products falling under Category 1 and Category 2 will be allowed to be on KPKB inventory and for sale, through KPKB Bhandars whereas products falling under Category 3 will stand de-listed with effect from June 1 and their sale will not be allowed with effect from June 1.
“Further, the firms with all of the listed products falling under Category 3 will itself stand de-listed from KPKB inventory w.e.f. 1st June 2020. However, the firms whose inventory consists of mixed categories of products will be allowed to continue with KPKB but with products of Category 1 and Category 2 only.
ation to KPKB.
Some products which have been delisted are — Colgate Palmolive products like body wash and mouth wash, Havells products like hair straighteners, HUL (GSK) certain categories of Horlicks, HUL Magnum chocolate ice cream, Loreal Maybelline Kajal, Several products of LG electronics, Mars chocolates.
A few Nivea products, a few products of Philips, Bajaj and Panasonic, Blue star, Abbott healthcare product Similac Isomil, several Addidas body spray sold by Cavinkare, Eureka Forbes products, Gillette and vector products sold by P&G, Red Bull energy drink, Air freshener Airsick (Reckitt Benckiser), Safari Samsonite luggage products and few VIP luggage products, a few products of Samsung, Sleepwell blanket range, Few Range of Timex, Two products of TTK Prestige, Real fruit juice, SKECHERS footwear range.
The imported products had been de-listed after the government last month announced that paramilitary canteens will only sell indigenous or Indian products from June 1 in a bid to give fillip to domestic industries.
The move to sell only “Made in India” products in paramilitary canteens was spurred after Prime Minister last month stressed on the mantras of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” or self-reliance and “vocal for local” while announcing a mega economic package to tackle the economic impact of coronavirus.
60 to 70 per cent of people who shopped at paramilitary canteens mostly bought only essential and basic items. “The canteens were mostly catering to lower and upper level of the constabulary. But this decision would have an impact on the rest 30 to 40 per cent,” a senior officer said.
Paramilitary canteens record around Rs 2,800 crore in sales annually. The CAPF includes the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG) and Assam Rifles.
(Bureau Inputs with Agency Reports).