The Union authorities amended the Flag Code of India final yr permitting manufacturing of polyester and machine-made nationwide flags in order that sufficient flags can be found for its Har Ghar Tiranga (tricolour at each door) programme that proposes to cowl authorities buildings, non-public workplaces and residences. Earlier solely hand-woven and hand-spun flags fabricated from cotton, silk, wool or Khadi have been allowed.
The notification amending the Flag Code of India, 2002, by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), carried out on December 30 final yr, says that “National Flag made of polyester or machine-made flags have been allowed. Now, the National Flag shall be made of hand-spun and hand-woven or machine-made, cotton/polyester/wool/silk khadi bunting.”
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced the tricolour plan as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav marketing campaign launched by the federal government within the run-up to the 75 years of Independence.
The programme was launched on April 12 to encourage Indians to hoist the nationwide flag at their houses. Mr. Shah is the pinnacle of the nationwide implementation committee for the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
In a letter to authorities departments on May 20, the Culture Ministry stated: “The idea behind this initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of citizens and promote awareness about our national flag.”
Create a buzz
The Cabinet Secretary had chaired a gathering of a committee of secretaries on Har Ghar Tiranga on May 13, the letter acknowledged. Employees and households of ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, self-help teams, civil society organisations ought to have “active participation” within the programme, it stated.
“Corporate and private organisations may also be encouraged, wherever possible, to participate and contribute including CSR resources,” the letter stated. The ministries and departments have been additionally requested to create a buzz and consciousness through the use of their official web sites and social media handles.
The Hindu reported on April 30 that the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), which runs the lone BIS-approved flag-making unit, wrote to the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India that the modification will have an effect on the entire of the khadi sector and the “basic tenet of khadi has been attacked.”
The hoisting, use and show of the Indian National Flag is ruled by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India, 2002. Dishonouring the tricolour is a punishable offence.
Source: www.thehindu.com
