'Stop use of plastic national flag': Govt tells states, UTs ahead of Independence Day

The Union Home Ministry has said that the national flag represents the hope and aspirations of the people and should have a position of honour.

Ahead of the Independence Day celebration, the Centre has asked states and Union territories to ensure citizens do not use plastic national flags as appropriate disposal of the flags made of a non-biodegradable item is a practical problem.  The Union Home Ministry has said that the national flag represents the hope and aspirations of the people and should have a position of honour.

The ministry noted that on important national, cultural and sports events, the national flags are now being made of plastic instead of national flags made of paper. Since the plastic flags are not biodegradable, they do not get decomposed for a long time, and appropriate disposal of national flags made of plastic is commensurate with the flag's dignity, which is a practical problem.

In a statement, the Home Ministry said: "You are, therefore, requested to ensure that on the occasions of important national, cultural and sports events, flags made of paper only are used by the 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."

The MHA further instructed the states that plastic flags should be disposed of in private and maintain the dignity of the national flag. The state governments have also been asked to advertise against national flags made of plastic in the electronic and print media.