Gearing up for Garima

Life with dignity is one of the basic fundamental rights we have by constitution. But, for many, it is the toughest and most precious one to achieve.

Who can bear the consequences of its absence better than the women of rural interiors of Jharkhand?

Witchcraft is a practice which is tarnishing the prestige of the state. Almost every week, one can hear a story of such incidents where a woman has been blamed for witchcrafting and then dragged, abused, tortured and assaulted by the villagers in draconian ways.

In most of the cases, the victim is a widow or seperated with husband. Almost all the cases have an ulterior motive of domestic politics or greed.

Jharkhand as a state is not a lone sufferer but this practice is prevalent in adjoining districts of Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.In most of the cases, no body comes forward to help these victims of witchcraft-neither the Government, police nor the Mukhiya.

There are instances of physical assault, making them walk naked, then forcing them to have excreta. Such practices are common methods of punishment given to women after labelling them as bisaahi or dayan.

Having no one by their side, they are pestered to survive and lead their lives with life-long trauma. This is just because they are underprivileged women without power and support.

After years of demand from various social agencies, an act against witchcraft finally came into existence in 2002-but it has remained ineffective.

Hardly anyone has been convicted or received any kind of punishment under this act. All Ojha, Gunia, Dabang tribes have managed to escape and women are still facing the wrath of this ill-practice.

Finally, the Jharkhand Government has come with a ray of hope in protecting the victims of this malpractice.

The light at the end of the tunnel comes with the recently launched campaign of the Jharkhand Government called Garima (dignity) for the women affected by the malpractice of witchcraft in the state.

The project aims to reach 2,068 villages in 342 gram panchayats of 25 selected blocks of Bokaro, Gumla, Khunti, Lohardaga, Simdega, West Singhbhum and Latehar. It targets to make these areas witchcraft-free by 2023.

This is a welcome move by one and all.

Finally the Government has focused on rehabilitation of these women by helping them in skill development to earn their livelihood, along with taking care of their mental health.

Padamshri Chhutni Devi of Jharkhand has done a wonderful job in this field for fellow victims.

If government has decided to follow suit, it must be appreciated.

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