Santokhgarh/Una, August 17 (Rajveer Chopra): The issue of nameplates displaying the word ‘Harijan’ outside certain houses in Wards 4 and 5 of the Santokhgarh Municipal Council has once again come into the spotlight. Social activist Sulinder Singh Chopra has reiterated his demand for the district administration to conduct a thorough investigation and replace the old nameplates with ones reading ‘Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Nagar’.
According to Sulinder Singh Chopra, he had brought this matter to the attention of the then Deputy Commissioner of Una via a letter in 2018. He had demanded the removal of the ‘Harijan’-labeled nameplates and their replacement with ‘Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Nagar’. At the time, the issue had made newspaper headlines, and there was talk of a proposal being tabled within the Santokhgarh Municipal Council regarding the matter.
Chopra alleges that despite the passage of nearly eight years, the nameplates bearing the word ‘Harijan’ have not been removed, nor has the expected administrative action been taken. He stated that if the government has issued guidelines or imposed restrictions regarding the use of a specific term, it is the responsibility of the administration and the concerned municipal body to ensure compliance at the local level.
He urged the district administration to clarify the current status of the 2018 complaint and the proposal previously placed before the Municipal Council. Furthermore, he called for an investigation into the entire matter and necessary action to have the nameplates replaced.
Chopra emphasized that this issue is not merely about changing nameplates but is a matter concerning social respect and dignity. He demanded prompt action from the administration.
Meanwhile, Anjana Chabba, President of the Santokhgarh Municipal Council, stated that the matter had not come to her attention. They learned about this through the media. They stated that the matter is being taken seriously and necessary action will be taken soon.