Just after the recent by-elections, the country will now go for marker pens replacing traditional indelible inks for the ensuing elections. As per the directions of the Election Commission of India, the Mysore Paints and Varnish limited (MPVl) the only and exclusive supplier of indelible ink to the Election Commission has started manufacturing marker pens replacing decades old ink which use to be mark of pride on the election day.
The Mysuru based MPVl, a Karnataka Government undertaking has already started manufacturing trendy swanky marker pens replacing small ink bottles and brush. The MPVl manufactured marker pens will be the main attraction at polling booths for marking on fingers of voters as a proof of right of vote in the next elections.
According to HA Venkatesh, Chairman of Mysuru Paints and Varnish limited, they have started manufacturing marker pens replacing traditional indelible ink as per the directions of the Elections Commission of India. He said “Following the directions from the Election Commission, we decided to replace the present bottle and brush indelible ink with marker pens. We had sent the samples to the Election Comm-
ission and they are happy with the product. The new marker pens were also tested at laboratory and the outcome results are in favour of the MPVl and were appreciated.”
“The new marker pens are cost effective and easy to transport and can be easily stored. The required raw materials are stocked and once the Election Commission appr-
oves, we will start manufacturing the pens and this will be used in the upcoming elections,” he added.
According to Vekatesh, MPVl had sent these maker pens for local body elections in Kerala and was very much successful. He said, “Earlier, as a pilot project, a few marker pens were sent for a local body election in Kerala and a good response was received. The markers pens are easy to use than the bottle and brush inks and each pen can be used to ink around 1,000 people.”
According to MPVl sources, the indelible ink was for the last time used in the two bypolls in Karnataka at Nanjangud and Gundulpet on April 9.
The MPVl had supplied 1,100 bottles of indelible ink each measuring 10ml of ink which would cost Rs142 for each bottle for the bypolls . The MPVl which supplies marker ink for elections in the country has a record of exporting it to 25 countries.
The MPVl was started in 1937 by the Maharaja of Mysore in the name of Mysore lac (Mylac) manufacturing paints and other related products and became a public sector company when India gained independence in 1947. In the year 1962, Election Commission, in collaboration with law Ministry, National Physical laboratory and National Research Develo-
pment Corporation made an agreement with Mysuru Paints for supply of indelible ink for the lok Sabha and Assembly elections and also to Municipalities, Co-operative institutions and organisations for elections.
Mysore Paints and Varnish had sold indelible ink costing Rs22.5 crore post-demonetisation between November 15 and 24in 2016. The ink manufactured by the company was used by banks to prevent multiple withdrawal of money after demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 denomination notes following the direction of the Reserve Bank of India which had placed an order of about 2.96 lakh ink bottles to the MylAC.