Now, MPVL sets foot in health sector

Mysuru firm develops marker pens for pulse polio programme Ranjith Kandya

Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL), which has been supplying indelible ink to the Election Commission for more than five decades now, is extending its service to the health sector. The only government undertaking producing indelible ink has now developed Pulse Polio marker pens to mark on the fingers of children administered with polio drops.

The company has supplied three sample pens to the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government on an experimental basis. Each marker pen, which contains three ml of ink, can be used to mark the fingers of 350-400 children.

Speaking to DH, MPVL chairman H A Venkatesh said, ”We have designed and developed the marker pens as per the specifications issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).” The ink used in the markers is biologically safe to be used. The samples have also been sent to WHO office in Delhi for verification. Each marker pen costs Rs 16, he said.

The indelible ink used in Pulse Polio marker pens differs from that used in the marker pens supplied to the Election Commission. Venkatesh said, “We are expecting orders for the pens from the Union as well as state governments. We will begin production as per the orders.”

Marker pens for polls
Also, MPVL has developed indelible marker pens in place of indelible ink, which is in use for the election process. The marker pens have been tested at the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, a report of which has been submitted to the government. The marker pens were used by the Election Commission of Kerala in one of the elections there recently, Venkatesh said.

MPVL supplied novel ballot paper pens for the recently concluded Presidential elections and has received good response from the Election Commission of India. As many as 1,000 pens were supplied for the polls.