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Witch-hunting is still prevalent in some Indian states. FLAC runs a campaign against this appalling practice and supports women accused of practising witchcraft.
In the interiors of states like Bihar and West Bengal, 'witches' or 'dains' and their children are still hunted and killed. Witch-hunting is one of the least talked-about acts of violence. The murder of individuals and entire families accused of witchcraft is common in other states too, such as Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. From 1991 to 2000, over 522 cases of witch-hunting have been registered in Bihar alone. The Free Legal Aid Committee (FLAC), based in the new state of Jharkhand, first got involved in the case of Mani Kui of Karandih, Jamshedpur, who had been attacked and badly wounded by a group of people wh! o accused her of witchcraft. The mob also killed her husband and son. FLAC decided to investigate the case, and initiated a widespread discussion of the practice. The NGO now runs a campaign against witch-hunting. It also provides support to women accused of being witches, and their children. FLAC has been successful in highlighting the fact that it is not superstition that is at the root of many of these accusations of witchcraft but socio-economic factors: land-grabbing, property disputes, personal rivalry and resistance to sexual advances. In many cases, a woman who inherits land from her deceased husband is asked to disown the land by her husband's family or other men. If she resists, they approach the Ojhas (traditional village doctors) and bribe them to brand her a witch. G S Jaiswal of FLAC says, "It is difficult to shake people's faith in witch-doctors." Lack of health facilitie! s and legal support add to the problem. This strategy of branding a woman a witch is also used against women who spurn the sexual advances of the powerful men in the community. FLAC's campaign against witch-hunting includes legal support to the victims, awareness and legal literacy through streetplays and publications, raising the issue at legal and human rights fora, and the formulation of laws and amendments. They have produced two video films on the subject of witch-hunting: Kya Mohia Ki Ma Dain Hai? (Is Mohia's Mother a Witch?) and Akhir Kab Tak? (Till When Will This Go On?). These efforts have prompted the state of Bihar to pass the Anti-Witch Hunting Act 1999. Legislation alone will not stop the practice. Change must come from within the community. The campaign, however, is gathering momentum, and attitudes are slowly changing. Contact: ! G S Jaiswal / Prabha Jaiswal
Free Legal Aid Committee
Opp IV Phase Adarshnagar
Sonari North, Sonari
Jamshedpur - 831011
Jharkhand, India
Tel.: 91-657-220 949 (O)/232 828/237 172 (R)
Email:
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