GUWAHATI, Sept 2 - As the State awaits trial and stringent punishment for those involved in superstition-induced mob lynching, a group of social activists along with Assam Police have started a drive to stem the rot through social awareness against superstition in rural pockets.
Mission Birubala in association with Project Prahari of Assam Police are in the field with an objective to bring that necessary change in people�s mindsets by making them understand the damages and consequences of superstition-induced crimes.
In association with the local NGOs and community groups in five different vulnerable locations of the State, the NGO has taken up the job to transform the approach of people towards certain incidents and help them see the rationale and logic behind the same.
�The Assam Police has taken this initiative through supporting us both financially and logistically, making the effort more effective and far reaching. The role of police from law enforcers to social reformers is really laudable here,� Natyabir Das, activist associated with Mission Birubala told The Assam Tribune.
As part of the initiative, a mass awareness programme was organised today in Howraghat of Karbi Anglong in association with Semson Sing Engti Chingthur Amai and Dokmoka unit of All Bodo Students� Union. Yesterday, the campaign was organised in Maikalong of Promila in Nagaon district.
�Soon, we would also take this campaign to Baksa and Chirang districts in association with the ABSU, and a number of other locations have also been lined up for the purpose,� Das added.
Mission Birubala is an NGO founded by Birubala Rabha - who has put up a brave fight against �witch hunting� in Assam and Meghalaya. The organisation provides support to the survivors of witch-hunting incidents and holds awareness campaigns at the community level against superstition-related crimes.
Project Prahari is a community empowerment initiative of Assam Police that has done commendable work against the scourge of witchcraft-related superstitions. It gives a common platform to different stakeholders like women�s groups, science societies, village heads and local police stations to coordinate and act on matters that require the involvement of both law enforcers and the community.
Not restricting only to the conventional ways of meetings and leaflet distribution, the NGO has taken some of the survivors of witch-hunting incidents to narrate their personal experience and bust the myths.
Eminent cultural activist Rayanti Rabha is directing the play against witch-hunting that stresses how the superstition is spread in the community after the outbreak of disease or an unnatural death, etc. It also highlights the roles of local healers, a common cause of many witch-hunting incidents in several places of the State.
This apart, two documentaries - Hunting the Hunters and Mrityu Upatyaka are being screened during the campaign in order to send home the message with greater effect.
