Ahead of the forthcoming national festival of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all states and Union territories, through a circular, to make sure the paper national flags are treated with respect and not discarded on the ground during the national celebrations, cultural and all events.
The home ministry’s communication has stressed the importance of preserving the ‘dignity of paper flags’ used by people during these occasions.
The directive from the ministry says the Indian National Flag symbolises the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country and deserves to be treated with the utmost respect. “There is universal affection and respect for, and loyalty to, the National flag. Yet, a perceptible lack of awareness is often noticed amongst people as well as organizations/agencies of the government, in regard to laws, practices and conventions that apply to the display of the National Flag,” the MHA circular read.
To ensure continued dignity of the national flag, as per the circular the people have been urged to dispose the paper flags privately and it has been specified they should not be discarded or thrown on the ground post events.
“As per clause (x) of Paragraph 2.2 of Part-II of the Flag Code of India, the National Flag made of paper may be waved off by the public on occasions of important national, cultural, and sports events,” the circular stated further with reference to the Flag Code.
The states and UTs have been asked by the MHA to conduct mass awareness programs in view of educating people with regard to the proper handling of the paper national flags
It further requests states and Union territories to conduct mass awareness programs to educate the public on the proper handling of paper flags.