In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, for the first time ever, the authorities have decided to commemorate August 15, India’s Independence Day, on a massive scale in the territory, from schools to municipalities to panchayat offices, this year.
All schools have been asked to celebrate the day by unfurling the Indian flag and singing its anthem amid the presence of students. Newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs have been told to do the same.
This directive has come at a time when the government has forbidden congregations of people as part of Covid-19 containment measures.
A teacher told media, on the condition of anonymity, that teachers have been asked to report for duties on Independence Day.
The teacher, who is a physical education trainer at a government school, said that it was for the first time that he has been asked to attend the function.
“This is strange for the teacher fraternity, but what can be done,” he said.
Administrative officials have been directed to unfurl the Indian flag at the district, sub-district, and tehsil level, and panchayat representatives have been told to do so at the panchayat level.
Until now, Independence Day was celebrated in a few fortified select places, where the Deputy Commissioner was the lowest officer in the hierarchy of administrative machinery to unfurl the flag.
This year would be for the first time that various departments, at various locations, will have to raise the flag.
