You all know that Media has a
greater role in nation building process. It not only informs, but also
educates, sensitizes and entertains people with strong and appropriate
messages. Ours is the development media and we are practicing development
journalism in the country.
The motto of development
journalism is to highlight the bad practices of the society and to promote
development works and achievements of the society. Still now some superstitions
and bad practices are continuing in the country, though we live in a knowledge
society which advocates us about human rights.
Witch-hunting related crime is
also an example of bad practices in the society. It is the serious violation of
the person’s fundamental right and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
advocate about the right to life. And unfortunately, most of the women are the
victims of witch-hunting.
How media highlights the issue—
Most of the Indian language
newspapers along with English newspaper are also highlighting the issue of
witch-hunting in their respective papers. Electronic media also broadcasting news
of the witch-hunting related crimes.
One Assamese script ‘Ishu’ based
on witch-hunting story has been chosen for Cinekid Junior Co-production Market.
The noted Cinekid production would make the film which highlights the issue of
superstition in an Indian State.
Media should highlight the issues
in a constructive way taking it as a serious case of human rights violation. Some
of my friends like Santosh Sharma from West Bengal who
is working continuously to address the issue.
In Odisha, some Newspapers and
magazines like ‘The Charcha’ are continuously highlighting the stories and promoting
scientific education through the magazines. Some mainstream newspapers like The
Pioneer, The New Indian Express and The Frontline and some Odia newspapers are
also highlighting the issues in a positive way.
How to report the Witch-hunting issues --
-- Media should give the
follow-ups of the stories on witch-hunting published or broadcasted by the
print or electronic media. It should present the news before the readers or
viewers till the fag end of the incident as that would impose pressure on enforcement
agency as well as the Government machinery to take immediate action against the
culprits.
-- It may be small, but the
presence of the story would literally compel the enforcement agency to take
action in time.
-- While highlighting the issue,
Media should give emphasis on the mastermind of the incident like Ojhas (in West
Bengal), Gunia (in Odisha) and Tantrik (in Hindi States) as they
are the real culprits who misguide the people.
-- If a media person gets any
news about witch-hunting, he should spread that news among the other
representatives of different media houses by which the news would get maximum
coverage and the impact would yield good result.
-- We all should work together to
curb the social evil. While reporting the sensitive and serious issues like
witch-hunting, the media should follow ethics and report in a decent manner
touching the human hearts.
-- Media should not report in the
favour of the superstition anyway, it should give importance on human rights
and report the verdicts of court on witch-hunting related crimes which would
create fear among the common people to commit such mistakes again in their
locality. Example- 14 people were arrested along with the main accused for
killing three women suspecting them witch in a village in West
Bengal as reported by my friend Santosh Sharma. While in Ganjam
district of Odisha, 23 persons were arrested for killing a woman suspecting
sorcerer.
IMPACT OF MEDIA:
Continuous reporting on
witch-hunting related issues has wider impact on society. It imposes pressure
on the intellectual mass and law makers of the State to think about the issue
in a positive way. It is possible to motivate and educate the people of the
country towards science and rational world.
According to Santosh Sharma, who
is a rationalist and working against witch- hunting in West Bengal,
they are continuously reporting on the issue during last few years. Over 100
people were killed per year suspecting as witch, in the state 10 years ago, but
now that is significantly decreased to less than 10% and it is due to the
media, he added.
SUGGESTIONS:
The State Government and public
should help media to sensitize the common people about the heinous crimes
against women.
The State Government should
direct the district Collectors to organize campaigns in panchayat level.
The women’s self-help groups
(SHGs), Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers should be activated through various
Government agencies and banks to motivate people.
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