In This Haryana Village, Homes Now Proudly Display Women’s Names, Degrees

Ghani Kheda, a small village in Haryana's Ambala district, is replacing traditional household nameplates the names and educational qualifications of daughters and daughters-in-law. This is a shift away from the patriarchal practice of nameplates bearing only the names of the male head of the family.

While the practice of displaying daughters’ names on house nameplates began in other parts of Haryana in past years, Ghani Kheda’s emphasis on academic achievements represents a new chapter in this journey. 

Breaking Away from Tradition

Traditionally, across much of rural India, homes carry nameplates that identify with patriarchal conventions— usually the eldest male, or the husband’s name. In Ghani Kheda, however, the panchayat decided to flip this narrative by highlighting women’s accomplishments instead.

The new plates not only include names, but also educational qualifications, with minimum criteria set at the graduation level. 

To determine who qualifies for the new plaques, the panchayat held a dedicated survey and found at least 30 daughters and daughters-in-law who have completed undergraduate degrees or higher, according to ETV Bharat.

Panchayat leaders say the goal is simple but powerful: to motivate families to support girls’ education and affirm that daughters are equal contributors to their households and society.

The village Sarpanch, Parveen, told ETV, “We want families to understand that educating daughters brings respect not only to them but to the entire family." 

Effective Outcomes in the Community

In Haryana, there has always been a skewed sex ratio. However, Ghani Kheda is different, with a positive and healthy ratio where girls outnumber boys. What is more exciting is that girls are also ahead of boys in academics in this region.

The impact of this on the children is evident: they are encouraged to continue their education because their names are proudly featured in homes across the village.

A Step Toward Broader Change

The names on the list represent true achievement, not just survival, giving weight to the decision to feature daughters prominently.

By proudly acknowledging the educational achievement of girls and women in the village, Ghani Kheda is making a clear statement: daughters are vital to the family’s sense of identity, pride, and future.

In this way, Ghani Kheda may be leading the way for other villages in India to think differently about how they assess and celebrate value, one nameplate at a time.

Views expressed by the author are their own.