Need to avoid the
use of term “Harijan” in respect of Scheduled Castes in official communications
and transactions
No.
17020/64/2010-SCD (R.L.Cell)
Government
of India
Social
Justice and Empowerment
Department
of Social Justice and Empowerment
Shastri
Bhawan, New Delhi
New
Delhi, dated: 22.11.2012
To,
The Chief Secretaries,
All State Governments/Union Territory
Administrations.
Subject: Need to avoid the use of
term “Harijan” in respect of Scheduled Castes in official communications and
transactions.
Sir,
‘I am directed to refer to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) letter No. BC
12025/44/80-SC&BCD.I/IV, dated 10.02.1982, in which all the State
Governments / Union Territory Administrations were requested to issue
instructions to the authorities who were empowered to issue the Scheduled
Castes certificates, not to insert the word ‘Harijan’ in the
Scheduled Caste certificates, but to mention only the name of the caste to
which the person belongs. Subsequently the Ministry of Welfare (now Social
Justice and Empowerment), vide letter No. 12025/14/90-SCD(R.L.Cell), dated
16.08.1990, had again requested the Chief Secretaries of all State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations, that for all official
transactions, matters, dealings, certificates etc., the Constitutional term,
‘Scheduled Caste’ in English and its appropriate translation in other national
languages should alone be used for denoting the persons belonging to the
Scheduled Castes included in the Presidential Orders issued under Article 341
of the Constitution. The State Governments / U.T.Administrations were also
requested that in the names of departments, which are in overall charge of
development/welfare of Scheduled Castes, the term ‘Harijan’ etc. should not be
used.
2. The Parliamentary Standing Committee
on Social Justice and Empowerment. in its Ninth Report presented to Lok Sabha
and laid in Rajya Sahha on l9.08,2010, inter-alia observed as follows:
"…..the circular issued way back in 1982 is very old
which has lost its sanctity and purpose leading to its non compliance…. As
such, there is widespread use of the word ‘Harijan’ across the country
deprecating the status of the underprivileged sections of the society“.
Accordingly, the Committee has
recommended that this Ministry issue fresh guidelines, instructions to States/
U.Ts directing them to ensure the non-use of the word “Harijan” not
only in caste certificates but also otherwise.
3. All the State Governments/U.T.
Administrations are again requested that for all office transactions, matters,
dealings, certificates etc.. the Constitutional term. ‘Scheduled Caste’ in
English, and its – appropriate translation in other national languages should
alone be used for denoting the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes
included in the Orders issued by the President under Article 341 of the
Constitution of India.
4. Action taken on the above may kindly
be intimated to the undersigned
sd/-
Yours faithfully,
(P.L.Negi)
Director (SCD)
Source: www.epfindia.com
[http://www.epfindia.com/Circulars/Y2012-13/HRD_MiscCir_14304.pdf]
