Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar has raised a significant concern in Parliament, urging the Union government to discontinue the use of derogatory caste nomenclature in the Census and official certificates.

Key Takeaways

  • MP D. Ravikumar urged the Union Government to ban derogatory caste terms in official records.
  • The use of such terms is argued to dehumanize and stigmatize Scheduled Caste communities.
  • The MP highlighted that using such terms violates the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
  • Historical precedent was cited from a 1922 Madras Presidency Government Order.

In a significant move within the Parliament, D. Ravikumar, the Villupuram MP and General Secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), raised a critical issue regarding the use of derogatory caste names. He appealed to the Union Government to direct the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to immediately discontinue the practice of using stigmatizing nomenclature in the Census and official documents, including caste certificates issued to Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu.

Raising the matter under Rule 377, Mr. Ravikumar emphasized that Scheduled Caste communities have long fought against the inclusion of such terms in official records. He argued that the continued use of these names serves to "dehumanise and stigmatise" entire communities, stripping them of their dignity during essential administrative processes.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the use of derogatory language in state-sanctioned documents creates a systemic paradox. While the Indian legal framework, specifically the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, criminalizes the use of such terms to humiliate, the state's continued use in official records undermines its own legal protections and social justice mandates.

The administrative recognition of derogatory terms is a direct contradiction to the legal protections afforded to Scheduled Castes.

The MP also provided vital historical context to support his demand. He noted that the movement against such nomenclature dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Specifically, he cited G.O. No. 817 issued by the Justice Party Government of the Madras Presidency on March 25, 1922, which directed that terms like 'Paraiyan' and 'Panchaman' be replaced with the caste-neutral term 'Adi Dravidar' in official records.

Historical Background

The struggle for dignified nomenclature is not new in India. The 1922 Government Order in the Madras Presidency was a landmark moment in the fight against caste-based stigmatization, setting a precedent for administrative reform that the MP is now calling to be upheld at the national level during the Census.

Did You Know?: As early as 1922, the Madras Presidency issued orders to replace derogatory caste terms with neutral ones like 'Adi Dravidar'.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the specific demand made by the VCK MP?
He demanded that the Registrar General and Census Commissioner stop using derogatory caste names in the Census and official caste certificates.

2. Is using derogatory caste names a legal offense?
Yes, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, using such terms with the intent to humiliate members of Scheduled Castes is a punishable offense.