2024-03-06 14:17:03
Biggest order till date
These are very busy times at Mysore Paints & Varnish Limited (MPVL). The biggest order has been received so far for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With the number of voters increasing with every election, the demand for indelible ink is also increasing. This time, 26.6 lakh vials of this ink will be required in the general elections. Election ink is required the most in UP. The production of ink for elections will cost Rs 55 crore. One vial of 10 mg can be used for 700 voters. After this order, MPVL says that at least 70% of the production requirement has been completed. The rest will be completed by March 15.
How is indelible ink made?
This ink contains silver nitrate. It is prepared secretly. Complete security and confidentiality is taken care of while preparing the ink. The ink formula is with the quality manager. It is not shared with anyone. This is the reason why the company has maintained its reputation for the last five decades. Indelible ink remains bright for about 10 days. After that it starts to fade. Initially, indelible ink was supplied in glass bottles. However, with the advent of new technology, MPVL started using amber colored plastic (HDPE) containers from the late 1960s. Each vial of 10 grams is priced at Rs 174. This is more than Rs 160 per vial in the last election. One such major factor is the fluctuation in the price of silver nitrate. The company is also exploring the option of manufacturing marker pens to replace plastic bottles containing ink. Its production is still in the development stage.
Supply in more than 30 countries
Democracy ink manufactured in the country is supplied not only within the country but also abroad. Made in Mysore Ink is used in countries like England, Turkey, Malaysia, Nepal, Ghana, South Africa as well as Denmark. At present, apart from domestic demand, the company also has export orders lined up to fulfil. This is because many of the 60 countries going to elections this year require this indelible ink for their voting processes. The company has received several requests for marker vials from other countries. It is expected that more orders will come in the next few months. Company MD Mohammed Irfan says that in the last few months, we have fulfilled small export orders from Cambodia, Fiji Islands, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. We are now busy with orders for Mongolia, Fiji Islands, Malaysia and Cambodia.
was founded by the king of Mysore
Mysore Paints was founded in 1937 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. In 1962, the Election Commission entered into an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnishes Limited to manufacture such inks in collaboration with the Law Ministry, the National Physical Laboratory of India and the National Research Development Corporation. The formula of this ink was prepared by the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research. The special thing is that this ink could not be erased easily. At present a team of about 100 people work in this factory. Entry of outsiders is prohibited in the factory. Apart from this, security check is done at three stages in the factory.