Rajasthan to launch ‘Sarthak Naam Abhiyan’ to replace derogatory student names

The Rajasthan School Education Department is preparing to roll out a statewide campaign to promote respectful and meaningful student names in government schools.

The initiative, titled Sarthak Naam Abhiyan, will involve working with parents to replace names that may be derogatory, inappropriate, or cause discomfort to children.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the move is aimed at addressing the long-term impact of such naming practices.

"In several cases, names are chosen unknowingly or due to social reasons, but as children grow older, they may feel embarrassed or develop a sense of inferiority," he said.

Officials have identified a number of such names and created a pool of around 2,000 to 3,000 alternatives. Parents will be encouraged to select from these options to ensure names used in school records are respectful and appropriate.

The minister also stressed the need to eliminate caste-linked or derogatory terms from official documentation, stating that words historically used in a negative context should be replaced in line with government norms.

Alongside this effort, the department plans to prepare a list of school staff found using tobacco, gutka, or other intoxicants on campus. The step is intended to curb such behavior and limit its influence on students.

The campaign is expected to be introduced across government schools in Rajasthan in the coming months.