Haryana Govt Directs Departments to Drop ‘Harijan’, ‘Girijan’ From Official Use
Haryana government prohibits outdated terms for SCs and STs in communications.
The Haryana government has directed all its departments, public institutions, educational bodies, boards, corporations, and universities to strictly avoid using the terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan' in any official correspondence or records. A letter issued by the Chief Secretary's Office on Tuesday emphasised full compliance with central government guidelines that have long discouraged these expressions. The directive applies to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, sub-divisional officers, and university registrars across the state.
The terms 'Harijan', meaning 'people of God', were coined by Mahatma Gandhi to refer to Scheduled Castes, while 'Girijan' has been used for Scheduled Tribes. However, the Constitution of India does not employ these words to denote SCs or STs. BR Ambedkar, a key architect of the Constitution, opposed 'Harijan' and advocated for the term 'Dalit' instead, viewing the former as patronising.
The state government's decision follows a review that revealed some departments were still using the prohibited terms despite earlier instructions from the Government of India to discontinue them. Officials noted that repeated non-compliance prompted the fresh directive to ensure uniform adherence. The letter explicitly reiterates that these expressions must be eliminated from all official matters, including records, letters, and communications.
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This move aligns with longstanding national policy aimed at using constitutionally recognised terminology for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. By enforcing the ban, Haryana seeks to promote respectful and accurate language in governance and public administration. Departments have been instructed to immediately implement the change to avoid any further deviations.
The directive underscores a broader effort to eliminate outdated or potentially derogatory terms in official usage, reflecting sensitivity toward the dignity of marginalised communities. Authorities expect strict implementation across all levels of state administration to maintain consistency with central guidelines and constitutional standards.
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