Mysuru: From next election in state, marker pens will replace traditional indelible ink at polling booths. Started in 1962, the traditional bottles and brush of indelible ink was used for by-election for Nanjangud and Gundlupet- the last time before the bottle and brush goes into the pages of history!

For Nanjangud and Gundlupet by-election held on Sunday, the Mysuru Paints and Varnish Limited supplied 1100 bottles of indelible ink each measuring 10ml of ink. From each bottle which cost Rs 142, the ink can be applied to nearly 1500 people. Indelible ink is used to mark voter’s fingers during polling to avoid fraudulent, multiple voting and other malpractices. Once it is applied on finger, it remains for couple of weeks. Karnataka government undertaking Mysuru Paints and Varnish Limited provides indelible ink to all the states in India and even to 25 foreign countries. In the last Karnataka state assembly election, Mysuru Paints and Varnishes supplied 1.50 lakh of indelible ink bottles each measuring 10ml.

HA Venkatesh, Chairman of Mysuru Paints and Varnish Limited said “Based on directions from the Election Commission we have manufactured the marker pens to replace the bottled indelible ink. The Election commission has tested the marker pen and is happy with the outcome. With this, we will be producing the marker pen form of indelible inks for upcoming elections on getting approval from the Election Commission,” he said adding that these marker pens are not just user-friendly, but are also cost effective.

It is believed that the Election Commission thought it was important to do some innovation on the voters’ marking system following feedback from voters that the marking done using brush is not neat. Further, storage and transportation of marker pens is far more easier when compared to bottled ink.Each marker pen can be used on nearly 1000 people. Hence after going through the advantages of marker pen, the Election Commission decided to use marker pen from next election. The rate for each marker pen is yet to be decided by election commission.

“We have stocked all the raw materials for preparing marker pens, once we get approval from the Election Commission, we will start manufacturing marker pens,” he said.

Already in some of the elections including in Afghanistan marker pen were used and feedback was good. Venkatesh also mentioned that Malaysia, Cambodia and Nepal for its election have ordered for indelible ink.

In 1962, election commission in collaboration with Law Ministry, National Physical Laboratory and National Research Development Corporation made an agreement with Mysuru Paints for supply of indelible ink for Lok Sabha, assembly election, Municipal, Co-op elections and also to certain organisations that require elections by-law.

On November 8, after central government banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 old notes, the RBI asked Mysuru Paints and Varnish to provide indelible ink to mark bank customers to prevent multiple cash withdrawals. The bank staffs put small mark of indelible ink on the right hand finger of those exchanging banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes for new ones to prevent crowding at banks by repeat exchangers.