Stop using harijan word in official communications: Odisha govt asks depts
Bhubaneswar, Aug 13 (PTI) The Odisha government has asked all its departments, public and educational institutes and others to stop using the term 'harijan' in communications, officials said on Wednesday.
The government suggested the authorities concerned that words like 'scheduled caste' in English and 'anusuchita jati' in Odia or other national languages should be used to 'denote persons belonging to scheduled castes as notified under Article 341 of the Constitution", according to a letter issued on August 12 by the commissioner-cum-secretary of the ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Class Welfare Department.
The letter was sent to all the additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and commissioner-cum-secretaries, the officials said.
'They have been instructed to ensure that the word 'harijan' does not appear in any official communications, records, transactions, caste certificates, publications, departmental names, or any other form of use," one of the officials said.
The authorities concerned are also directed to educate their staff and update existing documents and records accordingly, he said.
They are also told to submit a compliance report on the action taken on the matter, another official said.
The state government's action came in the wake of the guidelines issued by the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), prohibiting the use of the word 'harijan'.
These guidelines will be strictly enforced in all government offices, the official said.
In 1982, the Centre had asked all state governments not to use the term 'harijan' to refer to Dalits.
Following fresh guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a similar order was also issued in 2013 to all the states, directing them to ensure non-use of the 'harijan' word not only in caste certificates but also in official communications, the officials said.
The Odisha Assembly has also prohibited the use of the word 'harijan', they said. PTI AAM AAM BDC
view comments
First Published:
August 13, 2025, 10:15 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
High drama marks Panchayat polls in Nainital
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Thursday took cognizance of allegations that five elected representatives in Nainital district panchayat were missing ahead of voting. However, police said that affidavits submitted by the five elected members claimed they were staying away voluntarily. Counting of votes underway for Uttarakhand Panchayat Elections, in Nainital, on July 31 (PTI) Congress leaders alleged that they were abducted to influence the outcome of election of district panchayat president for which voting was underway on Thursday . A division bench of chief justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra, hearing a public interest litigation, questioned the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nainital PN Meena on whether the missing representatives had been traced. The SSP said security personnel had visited their homes as per earlier court directions to provide protection 10 days before voting, but were told by relatives that the representatives were visiting family and did not require security. Polling was held on Thursday for the posts of district panchayat presidents as well as vice presidents and Block Pramukhs. The SSP added that the police had received affidavits from the five representatives stating they were travelling and had asked that no case be registered if anyone reported them missing. Two more similar affidavits were received on Thursday. Advocate General SN Babulkar told the court that all representatives had confirmed they were abstaining from voting on their own will. However, senior counsel DS Patni presented a pen drive with video footage allegedly showing one of the representatives, Dikar Singh Mewari, being dragged away by unidentified men, some of whose faces were visible, while an armed policeman looked away. Another video purportedly showed three more affidavit signatories being forcibly removed from a polling booth. The bench directed that both videos be handed over to the Nainital SSP and District Magistrate Vandana Singh for examination. Counsel DS Mehta told the court that an attempt to file a kidnapping complaint naming the alleged abductors was rejected by the Tallital SHO. The SSP assured the bench that action would be taken against any police personnel found guilty of dereliction of duty. Family members of three missing representatives — Uma Bisht, sister of Deep Singh Bisht; Vinod Kotalia, brother of Pramod Singh; and Sanjeev Jantwal, son of Vipin Singh Jantwal-appeared before the court — each detailing how their relatives were taken away. Kotalia alleged that his brother was abducted by a group . Jantwal said he had seen a video of his father's abduction on a Facebook account. The court ordered that its directions be sent immediately to the district magistrate and SSP, with affidavits kept in the safe custody of the Registrar (Judicial). The matter will be heard next on August 18. Earlier, high drama was witnessed during the election for district panchayat president and block Pramukh in Nainital, turned tense on Thursday with clashes, allegations of kidnapping and even firing between supporters of the BJP and Congress. Congress leaders Yashpal Arya, Khatima MLA Bhuvan Kapri, Haldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh, former MLA Sanjeev Arya, district panchayat president candidate Pushpa Negi, and 10 members arrived at the High Court while a hearing was underway before Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Alok Mahra. They alleged before the bench that 'people of the ruling party' assaulted them and 'tried to kidnap some members.' Showing election result certificates for 15 members, they claimed that 'five of their local leaders were missing.' The court directed District Magistrate Vandana Singh and SSP Nainital PN Meena to appear virtually within minutes. It ordered both officers to 'maintain law and order' and ensure 'peaceful and fair elections,' instructing that members be brought to the polling station in police security. High Court security officer Rakesh Bisht was tasked with escorting the 10 district panchayat members who were in court to the polling station under police protection. In the block pramukh election at Betalghat in Nainital districts, three rounds of firing were reported amid clashes between supporters of both parties. Police dispersed the crowd and began an investigation. Both sides accused each other of instigating violence. BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt alleged that Yashpal Arya was 'trying to influence the voting,' while Congress state president Karan Mahara accused the BJP of 'assaulting Congress leaders.' District Magistrate Vandana Singh, who appeared in the court in the evening again, told the court that she will recommend repolling for zila panchayat elections to the state election commission (SEC)
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Mamata's Independence Day pledge: ‘Won't allow BJP to snatch away people's freedom'
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she will fight 'till her last breath' against any attempt to snatch people's freedom of speech, movement, and fundamental rights, accusing the BJP of pushing a divisive agenda across the country. Addressing a rally on the eve of Independence Day, the TMC supremo opposed the proposed implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, alleging it was a ploy to disqualify genuine voters and send them to 'detention or concentration camps.' 'This is my pledge on the eve of Independence Day. We, the people of Bengal, were on the forefront of the freedom movement. Our revolutionaries gave their lives along with others across the country. In Andaman's Cellular Jail, you will see the names of a large number of freedom fighters from Bengal who were imprisoned there,' she said. 'Who formed the INA? Netaji. Who gave the national anthem? Rabindranath Tagore. Seventy per cent imprisoned in Cellular Jail were Bengalis and 30 per cent Punjabis,' she added. 'Where were the RSS and the BJP then? We won't allow them (the BJP government) to snatch our freedom to speak, freedom of movement, or curb our liberty,' she added. She questioned the motive behind the sudden implementation of SIR, pointing out that a similar revision was already completed in the state between 2002 and 2004. 'People queued up before camps for hours to get Aadhaar cards a decade ago. Now, the EC suddenly says the cards are not citizenship proof. How many of those born before 1982 can produce birth certificates? We all knew school certificates could come in handy along with other documents. How many people can show PAN cards in this country?' she asked. Earlier in the day, addressing the annual Kanyashree project programme, the chief minister accused the Centre of failing to protect Bengali-speaking people from harassment in different parts of the country, citing a recent incident where a techie and his son were allegedly denied hotel accommodation in Noida 'simply because he spoke in Bengali.' 'If someone is a foreigner, action must be taken against them if the Government of India deems it necessary. That is not in our hands. But such actions should not be done arbitrarily… If I respect your language, why will you not respect mine?' She said English must be learned well, even in Bengali-medium schools, but 'never forget your mother tongue'. 'Earlier, till Class 5, English was not taught, but we have introduced it. We should know all languages,' she said. Banerjee invoked history from Vidyasagar abolishing child marriage to Raja Ram Mohan Roy ending sati to highlight West Bengal's contribution to Independence, stressing that 'without Bengal, India's Independence would not have been possible.' 'We have also suffered from Partition. But people who left everything and came to India as refugees were received as Indian citizens,' she said. Recalling her own struggles, she told students, 'After my father passed away, I had to sell one of my necklaces to enrol in college. We had no facilities, no advantages. This generation's youth should not suffer like that. They must be self-reliant. I urge parents not to pressure girls into marriage. Once they turn 18, they receive Rs 25,000, and keep that in the bank…' —With PTI
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Op Sindoor a sign India no longer bound by traditional borders: Rajnath
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Operation Sindoor was a balanced military response that signalled India is no longer bound by traditional boundaries, but is using modern technology, accurate intelligence and smart military strategies to target terrorism. The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated at the Independence Day function at Red Fort on Friday. (PTI) 'It was a clear message from India that we are tolerant, but when it comes to the safety of our people and the dignity of our country, we unite and face every challenge boldly. Operation Sindoor is a part of India's new policy, a clear message that no matter how deep the roots of terrorism are, its complete destruction will be ensured,' Singh said in a message to soldiers on the eve of the country's 79th Independence Day. The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated at the Independence Day function at Red Fort on Friday, three months after Indian forces hit terror and military targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. A Mi-17 helicopter will fly a flag depicting Operation Sindoor, the invitation cards carry the operation's distinct logo, the view cutter at Gyanpath will also showcase the logo, and the floral decoration will be based on the operation. Operation Sindoor will continue until the goal of complete destruction of terrorism is achieved, Singh said, on a day the government announced gallantry awards for soldiers who took part in the operation. Singh described India's actions during the operation as 'a shining example of a precise and successful military strategy, and a glimpse of a new vision, technological advancements and self-reliance.' India launched the operation in the early hours of May 7 and struck terror and military installations in Pakistan and PoK following the Pahalgam terror strike. Between the launch of the operation in the early hours of May 7 and the ceasefire on May 10 evening, Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing at least 100 terrorists, and the Indian Air Force struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. India, Singh said, successfully utilised cutting-edge apparatus such as drones, layered air defence, electronic warfare and network-centric operations, and proved that it is no longer dependent on foreign technology. The operation has taken India's military self-reliance to a greater height, he said. Talking about the balanced strategy of Operation Sindoor, Singh said within a few minutes (on May 7), nine terror training camps, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, were destroyed by precise missile attacks, and no civilian areas and Pakistani military establishments were targeted. The Indian armed forces, he said, neither crossed the Line of Control nor violated the international border, yet managed to deliver a crushing blow to the terror infrastructure hidden inside the enemy's territory. Singh added that with Operation Sindoor, the armed forces not only avenged the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, but also the strikes on Parliament House, in Mumbai and on Amarnath pilgrims in the past.
