Khadi India under Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Government of India, will soon launch Vedic Paint made from cow dung.
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari.
In a tweet sent out by Gadkari reads, ”We are soon going to launch a ‘Vedic Paint’ made of cow dung through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission. It will help in strengthening Village economy and provide additional income to the farmers.”
ग्रामीण इकोनॉमी को बल मिले और किसानों को अतिरिक्त आमदनी हो इसलिए Khadi and Village Industries Commission के माध्यम से हम जल्द ही गाय के गोबर से बना ‘वैदिक पेन्ट' लॅान्च करने वाले हैं। @ChairmanKvic pic.twitter.com/zhQpa3Es5i
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) December 17, 2020
Gadkari further added these paints will be eco-friendly, non-toxic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and washable paint would be available in distemper and emulsion. The other main features will be that it will dry in just four hours and it will also provide an additional income of up to Rs.55,000 to the livestock farmers.
डिस्टेंपर और इमल्शन में आने वाला यह पेंट इको फ्रेंडली, नॅान टौक्सिक, एंटी बैक्टीरियल, एंटी फंगल और वॅाशेबल होगा और केवल चार घंटे में सुखेगा। इससे पशुधन रखने वाले किसानों को साल में 55 हजार रूपए की अतिरिक्त आमदनी होगी।
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) December 17, 2020
The research for using cow dung in paints was started in 2016 by five students of Vellore Institute of Technology under supervision of Mrs. Ghamande Manasi, Assistant Professor in Chemistry.
A paper was also published [PDF] on Manufacturing of Cow Dung Paint and it talks about how cow dung plasters are commonly found in many Indian homes in rural areas and it has anti-bacterial properties and is believed to be one of the best natural disinfectants.
The paper also talks about how using cow dung paint can improve air quality and it also reduces the need for air conditioning as it acts as an insulator and keeps heat out in summers while holding it inside in winters.