Ranchi: The District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Ranchi has started a drive to create awareness against witch-hunting in rural areas under the month-long ‘justice at your doorstep’ programme.
A van, which was flagged off on March 1 as part of the ‘justice at your doorstep’ programme, recently carried out an awareness drive in the Ormanjhi block, where para–legal volunteers (PLVs) and panel lawyers discussed the legal provisions related to the prevention of witch-hunting. The campaign has been conducted in Ratu, Itki, Kanke, Sonahatu, Lapung, Namkum, Bedo, Angara, Mandar, Chanho, Tamar, Khelari, Nagri, Budmu, Bundu, Silli and Rahe blocks so far. The drive would continue till the end of March.
DLSA secretary Abhishek Kumar said, “The DLSA is holding several programmes, including street plays and counselling, to spread awareness.”
He said that help is also being provided to the victims of witch-hunting. “A team of PLVs and panel lawyers are taking legal action against those accused of witch-hunting and providing legal aid to the victims,” he said.
Notably, Chief Justice of Jharkhand high court Dr Ravi Rajan recently expressed concerns over the high numbers of witch-hunting cases in the state.