New Delhi: The Central government has issued a set of instructions to all states and Union Territories on how to observe two minutes of silence on Martyrs’ Day in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during freedom struggle on January 30.
In an official order, the Ministry of Home Affairs on said in the past, it has been observed that while two minutes’ silence is observed in some offices, the general public goes about its occupation in the ordinary course.
Considering the solemnity of the occasion, the following standing instructions have been laid down for observance of the silence:
- Silence should be observed and work and movement stopped for two
minutes throughout the country at 11 am on January 30.
- Wherever feasible, the commencement and termination of the two minutes’
silence period should be indicated by sound of siren or Army guns. Sirens
should be sounded from 10.59 am till 11 am and after two
minutest, all clear sirens should again be sounded from 11.02 am till
11.03 am. This procedure may be adopted where sirens exist. - On hearing the signal (wherever available), all persons would stand up and
observe the silence. - At places where no signal systems is available, suitable instructions can
be issued to all concerned for observing the silence for two minutes at
11 am. - The states and Union Territories Governments are requested to ensure that the Martyrs’ Day is observed with due solemnity. State/Union Territories governments may issue instructions to all educational institutions and public sector enterprises under their control for observance of the Martyrs’ Day.
It may be ensured that the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) issued from time to time regarding COVID-19 are strictly adhered to while
observing the Martyrs’ Day, the order said.