“Witch branding” will now be a crime
A committee of the Odisha State Commission for Women has suggested making witch branding a crime.
The Odisha State Commission for Women has demanded to strengthen the provisions of the Odisha Witch Redressal Act, 2013. Along with this, there has also been a demand to make the victims declared as witches a heinous and punishable offense. ‘The practice of harassing by being declared a witch’ is a malpractice.
In this, women are accused of using tantric powers. It is believed that these powers create harmful effects. After making such allegations, they are tortured. They are banished from home and society, flogged and beaten.
According to a study by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), this practice is more prevalent in the states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh etc.
Reasons for witch torture:
- The main reasons for this include economic backwardness, lack of resources and poverty.
- The low literacy rate has also given rise to superstition and violence against women.
- prevailing caste system, patriarchal norms, gender conflict and
- The problem is compounded by lack of continuous awareness programmes, non-compliance of laws and non-implementation of informed intervention of the government.
Recommendations of the Committee:
- Special courts are needed for speedy trial of cases related to witch branding.
- Rescue, rehabilitation of victims. It should be the responsibility of the government to bear the treatment and legal expenses.
- The witch doctors should also be equally held guilty of being involved in the crime.
- Law enforcement should be ensured in areas associated with witchcraft. Also, awareness campaigns should be organized involving traditional leaders and women’s groups.
Source – The Hindu
