Centre drafting rules for artworks at airports

The Modi government is in the process of drafting a policy on installation of statues and portraits of prominent dignitaries and persons at airports of India, a reply to an RTI query has revealed.

In its reply to Aneesh Bhanot, the civil aviation ministry said it is in the process of framing a policy on installation of statues and portraits at airports, and that no such installations will be undertaken until it is finalised.

Aneesh is the brother of Ashoka Chakra awardee Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life trying to save passengers in the hijacked Pan Am flight 73 in Karachi in September 1986.

The ministry of civil aviation conferred an honour on Neerja posthumously on February 18, 2010 in New Delhi at the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian aviation.

Aneesh has also written to civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju requesting that Neerja's statue be displayed at prominent places in airports of the country with a plaque which would inspire Indian and foreign passengers.

"That the world recognized her immense bravery and sacrifice is obvious from the fact that she was conferred the Ashoka Chakra by India and she became the first woman recipient of the Ashoka Chakra," the letter mentioned, highlighting other awards received by her, including Tamga-E-Insaniyat by Pakistan, awards of 'Special Courage' and 'Justice for Crimes'," he wrote.

RTI RESPONSE

• No art installations will be undertaken until the Civil Aviation Ministry frames a policy on it.
   
• This was revealed in reply to an RTI query by Ashoka Chakra awardee Neerja’ Bhanot’s brother.