law can control witch-hunting-related crimes, but awareness is needed to curb hidden practices of sorcery and witch-hunting in the State,” said the experts attending a State-level workshop on ‘Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2013’ organised by the Odisha Rationalist Society (ORS) in association with Actionaid here on Monday.
The experts sought to make activists understand about truth behind magic and false things like witchcraft. They told about psychological reasons of calling a woman witch and the mental conditions of illiterate people who intentionally harass others by creating an atmosphere like supernatural things in order to achieve a high place in the rural society.
According to ORS general secretary DN Sutar, it was a workshop for the grassroots level activists engaged in sensitising people against superstition, black magic and blind beliefs. The objective was to provide proper training to the activists so that they can make people aware about the false things promoted by superstitious people.
“The State Government should begin an awareness drive to sensitise rural people and also slum people in cities about the false practice of witchcraft promoted by sorcerers and village chiefs,” said Sutar, adding, “Now, we will try to bring down the casualties due to witchcraft.”
Among others, former DGP Manmohan Praharaj, Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Mohanty, Dr Vijayananda Kar, Debabrata Patra of Actionaid, High Court advocate Kshirod Rout, Dr Pratap Kumar Rath and SS Dhada were present.