Guwahati –The Coordination Committee Against Superstition, Assam, has urged the northeastern Indian state government to bring the draft of a proposed legislation against witch-hunting for public debate.
The committee is the joint platform of organizations such as Assam Science Society, Ellora Vigyan Mancha, Mission Birubala, Gyan-Vigyan Samity, NESPYM, Jukti Bikash Samity, All Bodo Students’ Union, and All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association.
The committee submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Secretary and to the Commissioner and Secretary (Home and Political) on April 4, urging the government to make the draft Bill public before placing it on the floor of the legislative assembly.
A seven-member delegation of the coordination committee recently met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and presented a memorandum demanding early introduction of a Bill against ‘witch-hunting and other harmful superstitions’.
Gogoi assured the delegation that a separate legislation would be introduced in Assam soon and the process for drafting the Bill was in an advanced stage. Subsequently, the government made a statement on the floor of the just concluded State Assembly with similar assurances, The Assam Tribune reported.
While welcoming the steps taken by the government for enactment of a suitable law to curb the menace of ‘witch-hunting’, the coordination committee expressed its firm opinion that the government should allow for an expansive debate on the issue and also should seek opinions, suggestions etc. from civil society groups, various organisations, individuals, social scientists, experts and all concerned so that the proposed legislation can really be effective and meaningful.
The committee also hailed the intervention by the Guwahati High Court for early introduction of a law in Assam to this effect. This was stated in a press release.