EC allows use of indelible ink for home quarantine stamps

March 26: Though a rare move, yet the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday allowed the use of its “proprietary” indelible ink to mark people who have been quarantined at home in the coronavirus outbreak. “The decision has been taken in public interest keeping in view the demand from states to use an indelible marker on quarantined individuals,” Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa told.

In a statement, the commission said, the Health Ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the mark has to be applied so that it does not come in the way of conducting elections. It said, the concerned authorities will be instructed not to use the Indelible Ink on any finger on left hand of any persons.

The ink, so far used during elections and manufactured by a Mysore-based company only for the EC, will now be made available to the states. The ink mark lasts for over a month.