Keypoints:
- The state cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal in this regard moved by the social justice department.
- Names denoting castes such as Maharwada, Brahmanwada, Mali gulli and Mangwada will be scrapped and be replaced with names like Samata Nagar, Bhim Nagar and Kranti Nagar.
On Wednesday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra decided to change all caste-based names of settlements, gaothans or slum pockets across the state. So names denoting castes such as Maharwada, Brahmanwada, Mali gulli and Mangwada will be scrapped and be replaced with names like Samata Nagar, Bhim Nagar and Kranti Nagar.
The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting, said a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Names such as Mahar-wada, Bouddh-wada, Mang-wada, Dhor-vasti, Brahman-wada, Mali-galli are commonplace but they are unbecoming in a progressive state like Maharashtra, it said.
Dhananjay Munde, minister for social justice said that since caste-based names of residential settlements did not suit a progressive state like Maharashtra, “it has been decided to change the names in order to create social harmony and enhance the feeling of national unity.” The changes will be applicable not only in the state’s rural pockets but in slum pockets in Mumbai and other urban areas too, Munde said, adding that NCP chief Sharad Pawar had also expressed his displeasure over caste-based names.
The state cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal in this regard moved by the social justice department.
This decision will be implemented by the urban development department in urban areas and rural development department in rural areas and villages. An official said that a government resolution (GR) will be issued soon.
The state had earlier changed the name of a scheme and of an award which carried the word ‘Dalit’. In 2011, the state had issued a government resolution to rename the Dalit Vasti Sudhar Yojana as the Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist Vasti Sudhar Yojana. The next year, 2012, the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Dalit Mitra Puraskar was renamed as the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Samaj Bhushan Puraskar.
