Haryana bans 'Harijan', 'Girijjan' terms in official documents
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Chandigarh: The Haryana government has prohibited the use of 'Harijan' and 'Girijan' in all official communications, directing departments to use 'Scheduled Caste (SC)' and 'Scheduled Tribe (ST)' or their equivalents instead. Chief Secretary issued the order on Tuesday following complaints that the terms are derogatory.
The directive mandates that administrative secretaries, department heads, boards, corporations, public sector units, commissioners, deputy commissioners, sub-divisional officers, and university registrars strictly avoid these words in records, letters, and documents. The government noted these terms do not appear in the Indian Constitution, which recognizes only 'Scheduled Caste' and 'Scheduled Tribe'. This follows prior central instructions that some departments ignored.
Mahatma Gandhi coined 'Harijan' (meaning "children of God") for Scheduled Castes, but Dr. B.R. Ambedkar opposed it, preferring terms without paternalistic connotations. The ban addresses long-standing objections to these expressions as outdated and offensive.
The order ensures constitutional terminology prevails across Haryana's administration.
