GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3725
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
CURB CASTE-INDICATIVE NAMES OF VILLAGES/LOCALITIES
73725. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JU STICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that while many places are being renamed in the country,
while several settlements,...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3725 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025 CURB CASTE-INDICATIVE NAMES OF VILLAGES/LOCALITIES
73725. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JU STICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that while many places are being renamed in the country, while several settlements, localities, and villages still bear caste-indicative names like 'Tiliana’, ‘Ahirayana’, 'Pasiyana’, 'Dhubiana', 'Guniana', 'Gadariyana', 'Bhurjiyana' etc., which publicly reveal the social identity of the concerned communities, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is sensitive about the social discrimination and mental distress faced by the concerned communities due to these caste-indicative names, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to carry out any survey/draft/guidelines or formulating any policy to change such caste-indicative place names, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
However, for changing the name of villages, towns etc., which may include places which reveal the social identity of a community, the concerned State Government/ UT administration is required to submit the proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which examines such proposal in consultation with the concerned agencies. Thereafter, if found appropriate, the MHA conveys its no objection to the State Government/ UT administration concerned for issuing required Gazette Notification.
(c): MHA has issued guidelines for changing names of cities, towns etc. If any proposal is received from any State Government/ UT administration fulfilling these guidelines, it accords its “No Objection” to such change of name.
ae a oo