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Haryana Bans 'Harijan', 'Girijan' in Official Use, Cites 1990 Central Order

The Haryana government has issued a circular instructing all state officials to immediately stop using the terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan' in official correspondence, citing non-compliance with a 1990 directive from the central government. The letter states that the Constitution does not use these expressions to denote Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, making their official use incorrect. The directive was issued to all administrative secretaries, deputy commissioners, and heads of various state bodies. Separately, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini emphasized education and women empowerment in pre-budget consultations, linking state initiatives to the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision.

Key Points: Haryana Bans Outdated Terms 'Harijan', 'Girijan' in Official Work

  • Enforces 1990 central order
  • Terms not in Constitution for SC/ST
  • Circular sent to all top officials
  • Part of broader governance review
3 min read

Haryana government asks officials not to use 'Harijan', 'Girijan' in official correspondence, reminds of Centre's instructions

Haryana directs officials to stop using terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan' in all correspondence, enforcing a 1990 central government instruction for constitutional accuracy.

"All departments are therefore directed to strictly comply... and to discontinue the use of the terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan' - State Government Letter"

Chandigarh, January 15

The Haryana government has called for strict compliance with the Central government's instructions and asked its officials, who were using terms "Harijan" and "Girijan" in all official correspondence, to discontinue it.

The letter issued to all Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil), Registrars of universities, and heads of boards, corporations, and public sector undertakings, pointed to the directions issued by the central government in August 1990.

"It has been observed that the terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan'are still being used by certain state authorities in official correspondence and related matters," the letter said.

The letter said the Constitution does not use these expressions for denoting the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

"The matter has been reviewed by the Government, and it has come to notice that several departments have not adhered to the instructions dated August 16, 1990. All departments are therefore directed to strictly comply with the Central Government instructions contained in the letter and to discontinue the use of the terms 'Harijan' and 'Girijan in all official matters," the letter said.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Monday the State Government remains firmly committed to strengthening education and advancing women empowerment. Aligned with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 Haryana is moving forward with renewed resolve to actively contribute to the nation's progress.

The Chief Minister was addressing a pre-Budget consultation meeting with educationists and women representatives in Gurugram. Industries and Commerce Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, Education Minister, Sh. Mahipal Dhanda, Women and Child Development Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry, and Gurugram MLA, Sh. Mukesh Sharma were present on the occasion. Paying tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, the Chief Minister also extended greetings to the participants on the festivals of Lohri and Makar Sankranti.

Nayab Singh Saini, the confluence of the power of knowledge and women power is guiding focused initiatives in the forthcoming Budget aimed at bringing positive social transformation. He emphasised that education is the soul of society and the foundation of character, skills, confidence, and the spirit of nation-building among future generations. Strengthening educational reforms, he said, will give a lasting shape to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The Chief Minister recalled that in the previous Budget, the State Government allocated Rs. 21,893 crore for the education sector by incorporating 63 key suggestions received during pre-Budget consultations. These included the concept of modern Model Sanskriti Schools, running schools in two shifts, establishment of STEM labs, and linking students with premier national institutions such as ISRO and DRDO. Initiatives such as programmes to strengthen foundational education, the Haryana State Research Fund, the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme, and enhanced industry-academia collaboration were also outcomes of this participatory approach.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good move! Language matters so much. Using correct constitutional terms shows respect. But I hope this administrative order is followed by real, on-ground efforts for education and empowerment, like the CM mentioned. Budget allocations are good, but implementation is key. 🤞
R
Rohit P
It's 2024 and they're just now reminding officials about a 1990 order? Shows how slow the system is. While the intent is right, it feels like a symbolic action. The real work is in ensuring quality education and opportunities for all communities, not just correcting terminology in files.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in development sector, this is crucial. Inaccurate terminology in official documents can perpetuate stereotypes and affect policy framing. Respectful and precise language in governance is a basic requirement. Hope other states take note.
V
Vikram M
The article mixes two things - the order on terminology and the CM's budget speech. Both are important. Changing language is part of social transformation. Linking students with ISRO/DRDO and STEM labs, as mentioned, is the kind of substantive progress we need to see. Jai Hind!
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Nisha Z
A small but significant step towards dignity. My grandfather's generation used those terms, but times have changed. Our official language must evolve with societal sensitivity. On a different note, the focus on women empowerment and education in the budget consultation is very welcome.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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