Chandigarh, August 11 – Special care will be taken to prevent spread of COVID-19 during the Independence Day celebrations organized in Haryana. For this guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs will be followed.

Giving information in this regard, an official spokesperson said that it is imperative to follow certain preventive measures like avoiding large congregations during Independence Day celebrations. Besides this, there would be no P.T. Show, vulnerable person like children below the age of 10 years should not participate in various activities and in March Past as per the COVID-19 related guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

He further added that other preventive measures such as maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, proper sanitization will be adhered to. Sharing the details he said that as per the programme, the State-level flag hoisting programme will be held at Haryana Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh where Governor, Mr. Satyadeo Narain Arya will hoist the National flag. However, in view of COVID-19 Pandemic, the ‘At Home’ programme has been cancelled this time. Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal would hoist the National Flag at Panchkula. Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala will hoist the National Flag at Gurugram.

Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Speaker, Mr. Gian Chand Gupta will hoist the National Flag at Ambala and Deputy Speaker, Mr Ranbir Gangwa at Bhiwani. Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal will hoist the National Flag at Faridabad. Transport Minister, Mr. Mool Chand Sharma at Palwal.

Likewise the Power Minister, Mr. Ranjit Singh will hoist the National Flag at Hisar. Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Mr. J.P Dalal will hoist the National Flag at Narnaul and Co-operation Minister, Dr. Banwari Lal will hoist the National Flag at Kurukshetra.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. O.P Yadav will hoist the National Flag at Rewari. Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Mrs. Kamlesh Dhanda, will hoist the National Flag at Jind.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Archaeology & Museums and Labour & Employment, Mr. Anoop Dhanak will hoist the National Flag at Rothak. Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sandeep Singh will hoist the National Flag at Karnal.

The spokesperson said that Divisional Commissioner, Ambala will hoist National Flag at Yamunanagar, Divisional Commissioner, Karnal will hoist National Flag at Panipat, Divisional Commissioner, Rohtak will hoist National Flag at Jhajjar, Divisional Commissioner, Faridabad will hoist National Flag at Nuh, Divisional Commissioner, Hisar will hoist National Flag at Sirsa, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad at Fatehabad, Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal at Kaithal, Deputy Commissioner, Sonipat at Sonipat, Deputy Commissioner, Charkhi Dadri at Charkhi Dadri.

Apart from this, the above mentioned ceremony will be organized at district Level/Sub-Divisional Level/Block Level/Panchayat Headquarters/Bigger Villages in the morning after 9 am. It would also be appropriate that COVID-19 warriors like doctors, health workers, sanitation workers, etc. are invited in the ceremony as recognition of their noble service in fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Some persons cured from COVID-19 infection may also be invited.

Other functions of the day may include activities like planting of saplings, inter-school/inter-college debates on digital platforms: online quiz contests/patriotic essay writing and poetry competitions; launching of any important scheme.

Apart from this, other innovative ways of celebrating Independence Day may be considered like propagating patriotic or national integration messages and songs through digital and social media platforms, sound shows/lighting of important public buildings, waving of National Flags by people at rooftops/balconies, etc.