Home Affairs Ministry issues advisory against use of plastic National Flags

Ahead of the Independence Day 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday issued an advisory not to use National Flags made of plastic and advised the use of biodegradable National Flags made of paper.

“…the National Flags made of plastic are also being used in place of National Flags made of paper. Since, plastic flags are not easily 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,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

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The ministry, in its advisory, urged the nation to dispose the National Flag, in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag, after the event.

“...on the occasions of 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 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,” the advisory warned.

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The Home Affairs Ministry has called for strict compliance of the provisions contained in the ‘Flag Code of India, 2002’ and ‘The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’ and reiterated that the National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of our country and hence should occupy a position of honour.