Context:

=> Birubala Rabha, from Thakurvila village of Goalpara district, is an Indian activist who campaigns against witchcraft and witch hunting in Assam.

=> Since the 1980s, Birubala has been running an organisation called Mission Birubala which tours different parts of the state throughout the year to spread awareness against witch-hunting.

=> She rescued over 50 women from being branded as witches.

=> In 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

=> On January 25, 2021, Birubala Rabha was honoured with the Padma Shri award.

What is Witch hunting?

=> Witch hunting is the act of hunting for people believed to be practising witchcraft or sorcery.

=> It is prevalent among people who are deeply rooted in superstitious beliefs.

Real reasons behind Witch hunting:

=> It is mostly found that there are vested interests of some unscrupulous minds behind accusing a person of being a witch – like property dispute, intention of grabbing land, jealousy and enmity. Rejection of love proposals and disapproval of sexual advances are also factors that lead to branding someone as a witch.

=> Lack of education, employment opportunities and poor health facilities(people visiting the deodhani, bez and tantric for treatment of diseases).

Steps taken to address issues of Witch hunting in Assam:

1. Mission Birubala

2. Project Prahari

• In Kokrajhar district five villagers were branded as witches and killed in 2000.
• Former DGP Kuladhar Saikia who was the DIG of Western Range then, realised the gravity of the menace and initiated ‘Project Prahari’.
• Through this project, a bridge of friendship was developed between the police and the communities. ?
• This helped the police to get prior information from the communities of any such probable incident.

3. Sanskar – Manuhe Manuhor Babe project

• Former CM Sarbananda Sonowal initiated an awareness drive named 'Sanskar - Manuhe Manuhor Babe' in various parts of Assam, with the vision to eradicate misbeliefs & superstitions and to cultivate empathy amongst people.

4. Assam witch hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act 2015(Governor Assent in 2018)

• Ms. Birubala Rabha and Former Director-General of Police Kuladhar Saikia are the two people behind the legislation.

Provisions:

• The Act prescribes a prison term of up to seven years and up to Rs. 5 lakh in fine for calling a person witch.
• It also has provisions to come with Section 302 of the IPC (punishment for murder) if someone is killed after being branded a witch.
• The punishment for leading a person to commit suicide after intimidating, stigmatising, defaming and accusing her as witch,may be extended to life imprisonment, along with Rs 5 lakh fine.
• The Act also talks about various measures that the administration and police should initiate, along with NGOs and civil society, to educate people about witch-hunting.