Lko is flagbearer of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign in nation | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The tricolour business in Lucknow is riding a wave of unprecedented demand since the launch of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022. From neighbourhood balconies to corporate high-rises, the Indian flag is flying higher and in greater numbers than ever before.Vice-president of the All India election flag manufacturing association, Ajay Agarwal, said Lucknow’s contribution to the country’s flag supply has steadily expanded, with the city now accounting for 45 of the 55 registered traders under the association.“The launch year was massive. There was a slight dip in 2023, but demand bounced back strongly in 2024 — and it’s even stronger this year. We’ve already sold around 22 lakh flags stitched right here in Lucknow, and we are still one day away from Independence Day,” he said.The initiative called on citizens to hoist the national flag from Aug 13-15. But what started as a govt campaign has now become a people’s movement, said Agarwal.The production of each flag is a logistical journey through India’s textile heartlands. Cloth is first printed in mills across Surat, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, while Mathura contributes specialised components. This semi-finished material then arrives in Lucknow, where the city’s decades-old textile finishing infrastructure takes over.“Lucknow is the final assembly line,” said Agarwal. “Cutting, stitching, quality checking, packaging, all of it is done here before the flags are dispatched across India.”He emphasised that they strictly adhere to the Flag Code of India, ensuring accurate proportions, colour shades and thread count for every tricolour — whether it’s a miniature for school desks or a massive banner for govt buildings.What makes Lucknow’s flag industry unique is its deep reliance on women workers, many of whom are the sole earners in their households.Around 300 women are employed seasonally across the city to sew and assemble flags. These women earn from Rs 0.50-1 per flag.“Each flag requires a minimum of 11 precise stitches. It’s detailed work, and our women do it with unmatched commitment,” said Agarwal.“This is not just business — it’s a source of dignity and livelihood,” said Meena Devi in Lucknow.Flag prices vary depending on material, stitching and size. The smallest flags start at Rs 3-6, while premium 40×60-inch flags sell for up to Rs 70. But the star product this year is the Rs 67 mid-sized flag, which is by far the most purchased item in the market right now, he said, adding, “That Rs 67 flag has become iconic — it strikes the perfect balance between size, quality and affordability.”“This isn’t a high-margin business. But for us, the flag is not a product, it’s an emotion. That’s what keeps us going, even when we’re working 18 hours a day,” he said.