Latest news with #AnilKumarMallick
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Harijan' out of Odisha government's official vocabulary
BHUBANESWAR: In a significant move, the state government on Tuesday asked all its departments and offices to not use the term 'harijan' and replace it with the Constitutional term 'Scheduled Caste' in English or 'Anusuchita Jati' in Odia for denoting persons belonging to the category. This comes following a directive by the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) against use of the term harijan for SCs. The ST and SC Development department in a circular to all the principal secretaries and commissionercum- secretaries directed them to ensure that the term 'harijan' shall not be used in any off i c i a l communications, records, caste certificates, etc. The department also asked the officers to take steps to sensitise all employees in this regard and ensure that existing documents or records are aligned with the changes. State coordinator of Bahujan Students & Youth Front Anil Kumar Mallick had in May this year filed a petition with the OHRC seeking its intervention in removing the term 'harijan' from use by public institutions, educational establishments, news reports and government communications. He reasoned that 'harijan' has long been associated with untouchability and caste-based discrimination against the Scheduled Castes. The Supreme Court had also declared it as unconstitutional and derogatory and violating the rights of SCs under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. Despite this, the term continues to be used in Odisha, he said. For instance, there are seven schools in the state that have harijan in their names. These are Harijan Basti Primary School at Nayagarh, Harijan Govt Primary School at Athagarh, Panichhatra Harijansahi Prathamika Vidyalaya and Jhadlinga Harijansahi Prakalpa Prathamika Vidyalaya in Puri district, Nikirai Harijan Prathamika Vidyalaya in Kendrapara, Indira Priyadarshini Harijan Adivasi Ucha Vidyalaya in Banki, and Ertal Harijan Sarakari Prathamika Vidyalaya in Bhadrak. The OHRC asked the ST and SC Development department to take appropriate action in this connection. In 2012, the ministry of Social Justice had asked chief secretaries of all states and UTs that only the Constitutional term Scheduled Case in English and its appropriate translation in other languages should alone be used for denoting persons belonging to SC communities.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ambedkar statue defaced, probe underway
Bhubaneswar: City police have launched an investigation after a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar on the outskirts here was found defaced on Sunday. The incident took place in Alisi Shasan village under Balipatna police station limits. Anil Kumar Mallick, state coordinator of a civil society group, brought the matter to the attention of govt authorities and police via social media. Subsequently, the home department directed the commissionerate police to initiate a probe. "Some miscreants disfigured Dr Ambedkar's statue. This cowardly and hateful act is an attack not only on the dignity of Babasaheb but also on the values of the Constitution and the spirit of social justice," Mallick said. Police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said that efforts are underway to identify those responsible. "We will address the issue," said Singh.
