In rural communities of Rajasthan many children’s names are randomly chosen without clear meanings, names like Sheru, Shaitan, Kalu, or Tinku are commonly heard. Now these names are gettinga second look. BJP government in Rajasthan launched a unique initiative named “Saarthak Naam Abhiyan” (Names Campaign) to encourage families to select names with clear and positive meanings.

Why are these names being reconsidered?

Authorities believe that names with negative connotations might influence a child’s self-esteem and identity. To help parents choose meaningful names, the education department has curated about 3,000 meaningful names (1,409 for boys and 1,541 for girls). Names suggested by the department include Abheer, Agnibha, Balmukund, Badrinath, Aradhya, Annapurna, and Vaishnavi, among many others. This process will be entirely voluntary.

State government has directed schools to introduce this idea during parent-teacher meetings, and written consent will be taken from parents. The primary target of this campaign will be students in Classes 1 through 9.

What is the key reason behind the move?

Officials said that names are usually chosen without any consideration of their meaning and impact on the child. As the child grows up, their name can become a source of discomfort and lead to an inferiority complex. Basically, the government is promoting meaningful names so that a child’s confidence and identity are not tarnished by abrupt names. Another reason behind the promotion of meaningful names is removal of caste-based or derogatory terms from the records of schools.

Conversation about the names has begun, and some 2,000 to 3,000 students may fall under this category. Overall, this campaign by the Rajasthan government aims to ensure that a child never feels hesitant because of their name but instead feels pride in it.

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