Ahead of the 70th Independence Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory to the chief secretaries/administrators of all State Governments and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance of provisions in the Flag Code of India, 2002 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The MHA advisory calls for avoiding plastic National Flag and stresses on disposing with dignity. However, the authorities in Dehradun appeared to have accorded more importance to other issues and tasks, considering the wide circulation and sale of the national tricolour made of plastic in the State capital.
The advisory directs that mass awareness programmes should be held and given wide publicity through advertisements in the electronic and print media. It states that on important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are used by public in terms of the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002 and such paper flags are not discarded or thrown on the ground after the event. Such flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag.
Wide publicity, for not using the National Flag made of plastic, should also be generated along with its advertisement in the electronic and print media. It states, “Further, it has been brought to notice of the MHA that on important events the National Flags made of plastic are also being used in place of paper flags. Since plastic flags are not biodegradable like paper flags, 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. As per Section II 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 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.”
Reiterating that the National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India, the advisory stresses that the flag should occupy a position of honour. There is universal affection and respect for and loyalty to the National Flag. Yet, a perceptible lack of awareness is often noticed among people as well as organisations/agencies of the Government in regard to laws, practices and conventions that apply to display of the National Flag.
In Dehradun, flags made of plastic were also being sold and displayed in motley places including inside four-wheelers and on other objects and sites. The authorities in Dehradun appeared busy putting final touches to the preparations for the Independence Day function to be held on Parade Ground.
Apart from tackling effects of spells of rain since Sunday morning, the police deployed in and around the Parade Ground were focused on preventing unemployed physical education teachers from rallying in protest to Chief Minister’s residence. During the day, the protesters stopped by police, before they could approach Kanak Chowk, staged protest on the road itself, causing major inconvenience for the public and traffic congestion exacerbated by traders and public occupied portions on both sides of the road adjoining Parade Ground.
Traffic congestion, preparing the venue and checking security arrangements while also managing routine administrative, law and order tasks appears to have kept the authorities too busy to take concrete action as per the MHA advisory.