Superstitions in many forms claim lives of the innocent poor driving the society to backwardness in the absence of education and healthcare facilities, especially in interior pockets.
It happens for less economic cause, rather than many non-economic factors such as social customs, religious beliefs and traditional practices among a majority of people.
The Government sources say that every year hundreds of women are killed in witch hunt in spite of the preventive legislation, like the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act 2013. It is clear the law has been almost nonfunctional in intervening in such cases.
What is required is to promote awareness to change the mindset of the illiterate people who believe in practices of witchcraft albeit blindly.
Odisha is the second State after Jharkhand having such cases as reported by the National Crime Record Bureau. There is no correct figure of such cases as many of them are happening in interior tribal areas and go unnoticed. The districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada and Koraput have maximum reports of cases of witch hunting.
The other important issue in healthcare is the brutal ancient method of treatment like pressing hot iron to body to get cured. It has resulted in death of hundreds of children in the backward areas of the State. It is found that mostly the children of these marginalized sections are victims of such inhuman practice which is prevalent in the garb of traditional practices. Superstition in healthcare of women and children is one of the reasons of high infant mortality rate in the State which has not been sufficiently addressed by the authorities.
leave apart the interior parts, in the most advanced areas, a very common trend having great influence is the faith on Baba and Mata. They are believed to be wielding supernatural power to provide an instant solution to any problem of life, the believers think.
The superstition leads to violence and killing of innocent people.
Usually, a sizable number of people from almost all over the State, for any difficulties, theft, illness or family problem, mostly look for black magicians for solution without going to a police station or a hospital. The Baba, Mata and Tantrik are flourishing in good number to cheat people of money.
Superstitions are strengthened by religious belief, name of gods and goddesses, illiteracy, hunger, landlessness and low income and more importantly lack of anti-superstition laws. Added to this is the unrestricted flow of liquor, other toxic materials such as ganja and opium. Under the pretext of revenue, the Government has been encouraging the narcotics trade in the State. The social and political organisations working in tribal areas should take these issues seriously and need to realize the urgency of progressive social movement against all forms of superstition lest social development should take a backseat.
Social change through eradication of superstitions is very much needed for inclusive growth. But unfortunately there has been lack of progressive social legislation by the Government to help the administration to handle such issues. The State has been doing economic charity programme and these programmes are being projected in the name of development as solution to social issues. It is equally important to build the human resources of the State with education and social awakening.
The social education must include, constitutional education, civil, political and human rights education and more specifically health and hygiene education. These studies need to be introduced not just in schools but also at the community level literacy centers.
It has been observed that the community based organisations promoted at village level such as the women self-help groups are not being educated on health and human rights, civil and constitutional morality matter that affect their daily life. The social reform movements and civil society actions must be encouraged by the State to counter irrational ideas and traditional practices while spreading health and educational awareness among the marginalized sections. Women from marginalised sections need to encourage to work in social development sector by which they can play a motivational role in their community in brining change in the mindset of the people in community.
But unfortunately, women organizations have very minimal agenda on social change and for abolition of age- old superstitions and unscientific ideas which are a major cause of their underdevelopment and backwardness. A vast majority of women of the marginalized sections remain illiterate and have no access to education and information. They have very little exposure to the outside world and are mostly forced by the male dominated community to remain at home with traditional household work without much change and participation in outside activities. The traditional religious notions, caste and patriarchal restrictions guide and restrict their life. It is found that the marginalised sections in interior parts are deprived of health and education facilities because of poor infrastructure and lack of adequate health and educational service providers and most of them are not willing to serve the marginalised section in interior parts.
On the other side, among the service providers a very few are from the marginalised section and backward areas. It is important to ensure quality education and healthcare to counter superstition relating to health of the women and children in family.
There is a sizable number of vested interest people and spiritual and religious organisations in the State freely engaged in promoting illogical ideas and blind beliefs among the poor and illiterate masses.
The Government should ban such organisations and individuals and impose restrictions on their activities among masses because they are not only exploiting the simplicity and faith by cheating the illiterate and poor people but also are spreading unscientific ideas, detrimental to the growth and formation of an egalitarian civilized society based on scientific temper and democratic values.
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