The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided that all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens and stores across the country will now sell only indigenous products, from June 01, 2020; in light of Prime Minister’s appeal for making of a “self-reliant India” in a televised address. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, appealed on 12 May to make the country self-reliant and use products made in India. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has described this appeal as a guiding light to make India the Global Leader in future.
Address By Prime Minister Modi
In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Modi had called for a self-reliant India campaign; and emphasized that local capabilities met our demands during the COVID-19 crisis. “In times of crisis, this Local has fulfilled our demand, this Local has saved us. Local is not just the need, it is our responsibility also. Time has taught us that we must make the Local as a mantra of our life. The global brands you feel today were sometimes also very local like this,” Prime Minister Modi said; while announcing a Twenty Lakh Crore economic package for the country.
Step Taken By Ministry Of Home Affairs
The Central Armed Police Forces’ canteens together sell products worth about ₹2,800 crores annually. With this decision, 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh CAPF personnel will use indigenous products. Home Minister Shah also appealed to the people of the country and said, “This is not the time to be lagging behind, but to turn the crisis into an opportunity. If every Indian pledges to use products made in India (Swadeshi), the country can become self-sufficient in next five years.” Further, appealing to the people of the country, the Home Minister said, “Let us all strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Modi in this journey of making India self-reliant, by using indigenous products.“
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)is the uniform name of security forces in India; under the authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. It consists of Assam Rifles (AR); Border Security Force (BSF); Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF); Central Industrial Security Force (CISF); Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
