Chandigarh, Jan 13: The Haryana Government has issued a strict directive to all state departments and institutions to cease the use of the terms ‘Harijan’ and ‘Girijan’ in official communications. A letter from the Chief Secretary’s Office clarified that these expressions must be replaced with the constitutionally recognized categories of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
This order extends to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, boards, corporations, and universities across the state. The move aligns Haryana’s official language with central government mandates that have long called for the discontinuation of these specific labels.
“The Haryana Government has issued directions to all Administrative Secretaries… and Registrars of Universities in the state to strictly avoid the use of terms such as ‘Harijan’ and ‘Girijan’ in all official matters and correspondence,” an official statement confirmed.
While Mahatma Gandhi originally coined the term ‘Harijan’ to mean ‘people of God,’ the terminology faced significant opposition from BR Ambedkar, who advocated for the term Dalit. The state government noted that the Indian Constitution itself does not recognize ‘Harijan’ or ‘Girijan’ when referring to these communities.
The decision to reissue these instructions follows a recent review where authorities found that several departments were failing to follow existing guidelines. Officials found that the outdated terms were still appearing in various formal documents and records.
“The matter was reviewed by the state government, during which it came to notice that certain departments had not been strictly adhering to the said instructions. Consequently, all departments and authorities have been directed to ensure full compliance with the central government’s guidelines,” the statement further noted.
