EMN
Dimapur, April 28
The Ministry of Home Affairs has noted that plastic-material national flags are being used in place of paper flags during important events.
Because plastic flags are not biodegradable like the paper flags, they do not decompose for a long time and are harmful to the atmosphere, the government stated in a government circular on Thursday stated.
The government stated that as per section-2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’ any person 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 (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) 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.’
The ministry has, therefore, directed that important national, cultural and sporting events should use flags made of paper only as required in the terms of provisions of the Flag Code of India.
However, paper Flags are not to be discarded or thrown on the ground after events.
‘Such flags are to be disposed of in private consistent with the dignity of the flag. Wide publicity not to use national flags made of plastic should be made along with its advertisement in the electronic and print media,’ the government stated.
