Day after: Flag disposal a challenge

Rachana Ramesh| NT

Bengaluru

Now that the grand celebration of Independence Day is over, the question of what to do with the flags has left many confused. Even those who did not hoist a flag every year consistently did so this year, as a part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.

There are certain rules that must be followed while storing or discarding the national flag once you take it down as structured by the Flag Code of India 2002. It also lays out how one must display the flag and its removal – for storage, disposal or to destroy.

 “I did not know we were supposed to bring down the flag in a particular manner. The members from the various political parties and the municipal authorities, who visited my house to spread the word of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and to give away a flag, they never spoke of the removal,” said Savithri, a homeowner in Attiguppe who is new to hoisting flags. She was unaware of the regulations and had let the flag be, as it is.

Storage

 If you choose to store a flag after taking it down, there is a particular way of folding that must be followed. After the flag is horizon[1]tally placed, the saffron and green band must be folded into the white band. It must be ensured that a thin strip of the colours are visible. Then, the other side of the bands must be folded towards the centre in a manner that the Ashoka Chakra, along with the bits of saffron and green are seen. This folded flag must be carried in your arms or palms to the storage unit.

Disposal

“It shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or any other method considering the dignity of the National Flag,” says the law about the disposal of national flags that are damaged or soiled. Flags made of paper that are allowed to be waved by the public during important national holidays and cultural events must also be discarded in the same manner and must not be discarded on the ground. “Keeping in mind the dignity of the National flag,” one must follow the regulations.

The Flag Code of India 2002 was amended ahead of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign which has drawn severe criticism for shrinking the market of those who are traditionally employed to produce and distribute these flags. In July, an amendment was made to allow the flag to be flown both during the day and at night in the house of a member of the public. Prior to this, the flag was only allowed to be hoisted between sunrise and sunset.

 In 2021, December, another amendment allowed for the flags to be produced in machine-made polyester along with the usual hand[1]spun and handwoven flags. Some of the flags distributed by various political out[1]fits in the city were found to be defective with the Ashok Chakra not placed in the middle and the saffron, green and white bands not of same dimension.

Many NGOs and other organisations are conducting drives to pick up these flags and raise awareness about the right way of storage and disposal.