WORK IN FULL SWING: A scene of Rajpath in New Delhi on Tuesday being readied for the night long celebration of the 50th year of Independence.

NEW DELHI, Aug 13: Want to put up the Indian flag on the country's 50th Independence Day? Want to buy souveniers of this historic occasion? Few - including MPs, know where these are available though the Government is now exhorting people to hoist the flag at their homes and offices on August 14 and 15.

In Delhi, the tricolour is available only at the Khadi Gramodyogs, and the Cottage Industries Emporium, the only place where the golden jubilee memorabilia is being sold, has few stocks thanks to the dilly-dallying of the Government.

Sources say the Government on Wednesday sent an SOS to Cottage Industries, asking it to manufacture ``in thousands'', inexpensive plastic flags bearing the freedom logo for people to carry for tomorrow's March of the Nation, and on August 15.

The Government is reported to have permitted Cottage Industries to sell the souveniers over the counter only two weeks ago. Before that, there were strict orders regulating the use of the freedom logo. The result - many buyers, but little to sell.

Cottage Industries has been caught unaware by the enthusiasm of the shoppers, most of whom stumbled upon the ``freedom counter'' and then clamoured for the souveniers.

Set up only last week, the counter has already sold goods worth Rs 80,000. It is doing brisk business selling mugs, plates, coasters, pen stands, marble boxes, flags, stationery, badges, framed plaques and folders, all carrying the logo. Despite the complete lack of publicity, mementoes worth Rs 20,000 were sold today as the countdown to the Independence Day began.

According to officials, Cottage Industries was not geared for individual sales since the Government had earlier directed that only bulk orders were to be taken, and that too only from ministries and public sector undertakings.

``We had prepared samples of the souveniers and showed them to ministries and PSUs in June. But few showed interest in them at that time. However, in the last week, we have received several orders totalling Rs 20 lakh. The Department of Culture, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Nehru Yuvak Kendra, NTPC, ICMR and the Lok Sabha Secretariat, all have given us bulk orders,'' Cottage Industries Managing Director, Anita Chaudhary said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.