Guwahati, May 18: The Coordination Committee against Superstition, an umbrella body of activists and NGOs in Assam, has sought translation of the Prevention of Witch Hunt Bill drafted by the Assam government into Assamese, Bodo and Hindi languages for better public discussion before it is passed by the state Assembly.
The committee today said translation of the document into Bodo, Assamese and Hindi is necessary given the fact the areas with Bodo and Adivasi population reported maximum number of witch-hunt incidents.
"The state government uploaded only the English copy of the draft bill on its website but unless we translate them into Assamese, Bodo and Hindi language, it will not reach the cross-section of people for a thorough discussion on the provisions in the bill and get proper suggestion. Otherwise, only a few people will respond and it will become a law without having suggestions from the areas which bear the maximum brunt of the evil practice," joint convener of the committee Ishfaqur Rahman told The Telegraph here.
Dispur last month submitted the Prevention of and Protection from Witch Hunting Bill, 2015, in Gauhati High Court following the court's order during hearing of a PIL seeking strong anti-witch hunt law. The PIL said when maladies such as illness, death or financial loss occur in a family, superstition leads many to believe that evil spells cast on them by others is the cause. Those accused of practising witchcraft are often hunted down and ostracised by the community and the village.
Dispur on May 8 sought suggestion/objections from the public before it was passed by the Assembly. The government asked people either to email their views to assamwitchhunting@assam.gov.in within June 7 or submit by hand or by post to G. Sharma, deputy secretary of political (A) department, second floor of the chief minister's block at the secretariat in Dispur. The draft bill, which proposes punishment from three years to life imprisonment, is said to be the strictest in the country so far. Apart from stricter punishment for terming someone a witch and for physical, sexual or mental torture leading to suicide and displacement, the proposed legislation aims to check illegal practices by quacks.
The committee also urged the state government to extend the deadline by another 15 days. The committee comprises organisations like the Assam Science Society, Ellora Vigyan Mancha, Mission Birubala, Gyan Bigyan Samity, Northeast Society for Promotion of the Youths and Masses, Jukti Bikash Samity, All Bodo Students' Union and All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association, among others.
