Activists press for effecting Anti-witch hunt bill in Raj

Women activists from NGOs and political outfits here today pressed for enactment of the bill to prevent witch-hunting and practice of witch-craft in Rajasthan which was passed by the state Assembly two months ago.
On April 24, the state Assembly had passed a bill titled The Rajasthan Prevention of Witch-hunting Bill, 2015, but it has not yet been implemented, the women activists affiliated to a few NGOs including People Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), and women wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said in an interaction with village women here.
A number of crime cases related to "daayan" (witch) were reported from parts of Rajasthan including in Bhilwara, Jaipurrural, Mandalgarh, Mahua but no action was taken against the accused, Tara Ahluwalia, a woman activist from Bhilwara said.

Had the bill effected and made a law, the victim women would have got compensation, protection and justice, Nisha Siddhu of CPI said.
NGOs demanded that the state government implemented the proposed Act's provisions in toto, according to a release issued by them.
The Act provides for life imprisonment if witch-hunting causes death, and imprisonment up to five years and fine for practising witch-hunting and witch-craft and other similar practises.
At least 60 per cent of the fine will be given to the victim for treatment and rehabilitation.