The Central Government, leading the Independence Day celebrations, has asked the States and UTs to assure that people don’t use plastic national flags.
The step has been practised as securing the proper disposal of the tricolour made of the non-biodegradable things is a practical problem.
The Union Home Ministry, in a statement to all the states and UT Government, stated that the National Flag symbolises the ambitions and beliefs of the people of the country and therefore it must maintain a place of honour.
Why the decision has been taken?
The Home Ministry said that there is widespread concern and respect for, and loyalty to, the national flag. Yet, an obvious lack of information is usually seen among people as well as the agencies and organisations of the government, in respect to the customs, laws, and rules that apply to the display of the National Flag.
It additional continued that the States and UTs on the occasions of important cultural, national, and sports events, the national flags made of plastic are also being used in place of national flags made of paper.
Since plastic bags are not biodegradable like paper flags, they are not able to crumble for a long time. Securing the proper disposal of the national flags made of plastic compared with the dignity of the flag is a practical problem.
Only flags manufactured of paper to be used by the public: Home Ministry
After giving the purposes above, Home Ministry further stated that the governments must assure that on the events of cultural, national, and sports events, flags created of paper are used by the public in terms of the provisions of the “Flag Code of India, 2002” and such paper flags are not rejected or thrown on the ground after the event.
Such flags must be disposed of, in private, regular with the dignity of the flag.
A copy of the “Flag Code of India, 2002” and “The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971”, which direct the display of the National Flags, was also given.
