Union Home Ministry against use of plastic to make Indian National Flag
The ministry has issued the Advisory to the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all State Governments/UT Administrations, Secretaries of all Ministries / Departments of Government of India and directed them to give wide publicity through advertisements in the electronic and print media.
The Advisory stated that the National Flag represents hopes and aspirations of the people of the country and hence should occupy a position of honour. Yet, a perceptible lack of awareness is often noticed among the people as well as organizations/agencies of the Government, in regard to laws, practices and conventions that apply to 'display of the National Flag’.
The ministry also said that it has been brought to its notice that on important events, the National Flags made of plastic are also being used in place of paper flags.
Since, the plastic flags are not biodegradable like paper flag, these do not get decomposed for a long time and ensuring appropriate disposal of National Flags made of plastic commensurate with dignity of the flag, is a practical problem.
It may also be noted that as per Section 2 of ‘The Prevention of insults to National Honour Act. 1971’ - whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
The Advisory stated that on important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are to be used by public in terms of the provisions of the 'Flag Code of India, 2002' and such paper Flags shall not be discarded or thrown to the ground after the event.
Such flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag.
A copy each of 'The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971' and 'Flag Code of India, 2002' which governs display of National Flag, are available on the links on the Ministry's websitehttp://www.mha.nic.in.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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