On the second day of a national workshop on the issue of women’s rights violation due to witch branding organized by ActionAid with the support of National Commission for Women, Minister, Women and Child Development Department Prafulla Samal said that the Government will frame rule to ensure justice to the victims.
Also, Samal told to personally visit some of the most vulnerable districts after listening to the plight of the victims like Ganjam and Raygada and see the situation and take appropriate action.
Victims and survivors of witch branding shared their sufferings from nine districts such as Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada and Raygada.
There was a demand from the people to make Odisha a witch hunting free State in the country. There should be efforts by the Government to create an example through identifying the most vulnerable areas and taking appropriate action to stop the heinous crime.
Chairperson, Odisha State Commission for Child Rights Kasturi Mohapatra said that branding any person as a witch is violation of human rights and that prevents people from living a dignified life. The children of victims should be protected and ensured with the education and basic healthcare facilities as their rights.