Where Women are branded Witches

"In India's Rajasthan, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and the north-eastern states some women are identified and specifically targeted as witches or bearers of ill-omen in villages. These victims are socially ostracised and even close family members refuse to help or support the women, leaving them to the mercy of witch-hunters. Most of them suffer mental breakdowns because of pressure and depression."

“Whenever such incidents are reported, most people are dismissive, blaming it all on the superstitions of backward villagers. Almost all the victims are either widows or single women targeted by anti-social elements to either exploit them or snatch their property/land holdings. Even in the villages, almost everyone knows that witches don't exist,” as per Ms Tara Bhandari, chairperson, Rajasthan State Commission for Women.

Now Rajasthan state shall be the first state in India to formulate a Bill/Act on Prevention of Witch Practices to ensure justice to ill-fated women branded witches and exploited socially, economically and physically by unscrupulous elements in rural parts of the country almost regularly.

Read more.....................Off with a broom

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