Rayagada: The administration has taken up an awareness campaign in the tribal-dominated district to sensitise people against witchcraft amid frequent reports of violence among the villagers on suspicions of sorcery.

It is trying to make the people aware that there is no truth about sorcery claims and only those with vested interests instigate them to settle their personal scores with rivals by branding them as sorcerers.

"It's unfortunate that people are being killed in the name of sorcery and socially boycotted by their neighbours on the slightest pretext. We are trying to send the message across the rural areas that there is nothing as witchcraft and sorcery through this campaign," said district collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar.

The collector and several officials on Wednesday took part in an awareness campaign at Jangili village in Pipliguda panchayat.

The administration has identified several areas in the district where superstitions about witchcraft is rampant. It will make generating awareness among the rural people in the areas a priority.

Officials said they were generating awareness against witchcraft through village meetings, street plays, posters and leaflets. Groups have been formed by taking prominent village leaders and traditional healers in spreading awareness and to wipe out misconceptions.

"We are urging people to approach health department staff members when someone falls ill instead of thinking that it was caused by witchcraft or sorcery," Poonam said.

Officials said many villagers misinterpreted pujas by a particular family as practising witchcraft and they were targeted and shunned as social outcasts. "Hence, we are putting special care in spreading awareness against witchcraft by keeping tribal culture and traditions intact," said project manager of the district's Integrated Tribal Development Agency Muralidhar Swain.

"Development will not take place in rural areas as long as such superstition prevails. The only way such blind belief could be done away with is by creating awareness and literacy," said local activist Harish Hota.