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Invite 25-50 achievers to governor’s ‘At Home’ event on Independence Day: MHA
The MHA communication to state governments asked them to pay special attention to the band that is brought in to play at the ‘At Home’ event hosted by governors and lieutenant governors. “It should play patriotic songs and not simply songs from movies.”
NEW DELHI: The Centre has told states to invite 25-50 achievers including students who topped exams, frontline health workers and exceptional educators to the ‘At Home’ function hosted by governors and lieutenant governors on Independence Day.
In a communication to states and union territories on events being organised on Independence Day, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) asked the states to ensure the guest list of the ‘At Home’ represents a diverse set of invitees apart from the usual protocol-based guests.
“The majority of the gathering could be under the category of special invitees under different categories. A system whereby the invitee list is generated afresh every year should be instituted, so that the opportunity is given to a broad set of people. It could be considered that a person gets an invite just once,” the home ministry communication said. HT has reviewed the letter.
The home ministry also asked the states to pay “special attention” to the band at the event. “It should play patriotic songs and not simply songs from movies. A system of competition among school bands should be instituted whereby the winners get to perform at the Governor House during ‘At Home’ reception,” the letter added.
The letter also outlined the events being organised in Delhi and the functions that the states should organised at state and local levels.
It also asked states to encourage citizens to hoist the national flag in their homes from August 13 to 15 under the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative.
On the main event in Delhi, MHA said: “The ceremony at Red Fort consisting of the presentation of a Guard of Honour by the Armed Forces and the Delhi Police to the Prime Minister (Pradhan Mantri), unfurling of the National Flag accompanied by playing of the National Anthem and firing of 21-gun salute, showering of flower petals by the helicopters of Indian Air Force, speech by the Prime Minister, singing of the National Anthem immediately after PM’s speech, and release of tri-coloured balloons at the end,” said the statement released by the ministry.
Chief ministers will unfurl the national flag at the state level followed by the national anthem and guard of honour by state police, paramilitary forces, home guards, NCC and scouts. Ministers, commissioners and district magistrates will unfurl the national flag at the district level.
The ministry also asked states to identify the most prominent locations in each district and conduct a month-long or fortnight campaign to keep them clean.
“Efforts to be made by the State/UT for propagating the patriotic/ national integration messages and songs through the speech of the dignitaries, social media platforms etc. for Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” the communication said.
