Paramilitary canteens record around Rs 2,800 crore in sales annually.
An order to ban over 1,000 imported products at paramilitary canteens across the country for a renewed "Made in India" push was withdrawn on Monday as a number of items on the list were found to be Indian. 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.
Among the products and brands that were banned at the paramilitary canteens were Nutella, Kinder Joy, Tic Tac, Horlicks Oats, Eureka Forbes, Tommy Hilfiger shirts and Adidas body sprays. Certain brands of microwave ovens and several other home appliances too were taken off.
Seven firms importing products including Skechers, Ferrero, RedBull, Victorinox, Safilo (Polaroid, Carrera) were also de-listed.
However, list also ended up banning several Indian products including those from Dabur, Bajaj and Usha.
"The said officer took out the order without consulting ministry, so seniors have taken an offence and action may be taken against said officer,” a senior functionary the Home Ministry told NDTV.
According to him, a revised list will be sent out shortly.
The Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars, the parent body that runs these canteens, had divided all products into three categories.
Category 1 comprised products purely made in India. Category 2 includes products with imported raw materials but are manufactured or assembled in India. The third category consists of "purely imported products".
The parent body had also stopped several products of companies, which have not provided the information sought by them.
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.