Dang: Gujarat is set to expand its initiative, “Project Devi,” initially piloted in the Dang district, to encompass all tribal regions across the state. The primary objective of this project is the rehabilitation, reintegration, and protection of women, particularly widows, who have been unfairly labeled as witches and subjected to severe mistreatment.

Government sources told media that departments dedicated to tribal welfare, along with the Superintendents of Police (SPs) in districts with substantial tribal populations, have been instructed to identify victims of this social issue and engage in constructive dialogues with tribal communities.

It’s essential to highlight that 14 eastern districts, comprising 48 talukas and over 5,884 villages in Gujarat, with approximately 18% of the state’s area, house a significant tribal population. In addition to Project Devi, “Project Samvedna” will be launched in tribal areas, primarily aimed at educating women facing societal stigma about various government welfare schemes.

Moreover, women throughout the state identified as experiencing circumstances covered by these projects will be eligible for benefits under government schemes.

Disturbingly, there have been reports of numerous women disappearing in certain tribal areas, sparking concerns about their ostracization by their communities. A police official mentioned, “The suspicion is that they might have been boycotted by the villagers. We will try to trace the women and investigate their disappearance too.” In 2022, five deaths were reported in connection with alleged witchcraft practices.

Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, said that SPs in districts like Dahod, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Tapi, Aravalli, and Chota Udepur have been directed to conduct extensive surveys in remote villages to uncover such incidents. Sanghavi added, “We have also asked all concerned departments to focus on curbing violent practices in remote villages of the state by witch doctors.”

Earlier this month, 65 women falsely labeled as witches were facilitated in the Dang district. The ceremony, attended by villagers and police, resulted in 13 women receiving crucial identity documents and assistance in obtaining tap water connections, Ayushman cards, and other government scheme benefits. DeshGujarat