TG LIFE
The celebration of Independence Day is marked by a surge of nationalism in our country, but this time, one more theme is playing out along with the national fervour: Environmentalism. Every year, when Independence Day comes around, we see street vendors and shops selling little Indian flags, doing some good business while riding the patriotic wave.
Unfortunately, the next day many of these flags can be seen lying on streets or in the bins. Voices have been raised in this regard before citing that dumping the flag after Independence Day celebrations means disrespect to the nation. Recently however, another major aspect of the issue is being highlighted-that the flags are made up of plastic, which is hazardous for the environment. According to Union Minister for Environment, Prakash Javadekar, 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day in India, of which 9,000 tonnes are collected and processed, but 6,000 tonnes of plastic waste is not being collected. Further on, a 2016 FICCI report suggests that plastic consumption in India is estimated to grow at 18% per annum. The country currently consumes around 12.8 million tonnes of plastic annually.
Even so, this consumption rate is far lower than the global annual average of 285 million tonnes, and awareness about plastic pollution in the country is rising. The same awareness is now being reflected in the form of various campaigns to celebrate an eco-friendly Independence Day. While many individuals called upon fellow Indians not to use plastic flags, a message circulated on the internet suggested that a group of individuals was manufacturing flags made from seed paper. However, when one called the number provided with the message, there was no reply, and people began calling the message out as hoax.
The reality is that the use of plastic flag is illegal. According to Flag Code of India 2002, Khadi or hand-spun cloth is the only material allowed to be used for the flag to be hoisted. Flying a flag made of any other material is punishable by law with imprisonment up to three years, besides a fine. Raw materials for khadi are restricted to cotton, silk and wool.
