OHRC’s Stand Against the Term
On January 31, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) reiterated a long-standing position: the term ‘Harijan’, historically used for members of the Scheduled Castes, should have no place in government dealings or public records. The Commission underlined that it is outdated, socially insensitive, and inconsistent with constitutional language. This reaffirmation built on earlier advisories from the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, pushing the state to formalise the ban through an executive order.
The Government’s Directive
In a decisive move, the Odisha government has instructed all departments, public institutions, and educational bodies to completely drop the term ‘Harijan’ from:
· Official communication
· Public documents
· Caste certificates
· Departmental titles or nomenclature
The only accepted reference henceforth will be the constitutional term ‘Scheduled Caste’—rendered in English, Odia, or other recognised Indian languages as per Article 341 of the Constitution.
The order was issued by the Department of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare. It stresses that all branches of government must update existing documents, records, and publications to comply, and submit a compliance report confirming the purge of the banned term.
Legal and Policy Foundations
The notification explicitly references:
· Letter No. 1220/SSD (10.01.2013) from the state’s ST & SC Development Department
· Letter No. 17020/64/2010-SCD (22.11.2012) from the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
· OHRC Case No. 233/2025
These documents collectively reinforce the principle that official discourse should align with constitutional terminology, both to uphold the dignity of Scheduled Castes and to avoid the persistence of socially regressive labels.
Administrative Implementation
The government has directed that:
· All employees and officers be made aware of the order through internal briefings.
· Ongoing and archived records be reviewed and revised to remove the term.
· Future documentation—whether administrative orders, identity records, or educational materials—must exclusively use ‘Scheduled Caste’.
Departments are tasked with reporting back to the nodal department on the completion of these changes, ensuring that no residual usage remains.
Why the Change Matters
Although ‘Harijan’ was once promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as meaning “people of God,” it has long been criticised by Dalit rights activists and legal bodies for being patronising and for glossing over the structural discrimination faced by Scheduled Castes. The constitutional language ‘Scheduled Caste’ is considered neutral, precise, and legally valid, providing a dignified form of recognition in governance.
By enforcing this directive, Odisha joins a growing list of states actively correcting outdated terminology in official use, recognising those words in public policy shape both perception and respect.
Towards Dignified Representation
The state’s ban on ‘Harijan’ is more than a linguistic shift—it is a symbolic and practical step toward ensuring equality, respect, and legal clarity in governance. With the OHRC’s order and earlier central guidelines as its foundation, Odisha has sent a clear message: language matters in the fight against caste prejudice, and the official record must reflect the constitutional promise of dignity for all citizens.
(With agency inputs)
