Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday directed government officers to spend at least one hour every month in villages where social evils such as witch-hunting and child marriage continue to persist, stressing that sustained grassroots engagement is essential to eliminate regressive practices.
Addressing a state-level workshop on the Prevention of Witch-Hunting and Prohibition of Child Marriage, organised by the Women and Child Development Department, Parida underlined that education and continuous awareness campaigns are the most effective tools to combat superstition-driven crimes.
Highlighting the crucial role women play in Odisha’s rural economy and social fabric, the Deputy Chief Minister said eradicating practices like witch-hunting and child marriage requires not just legal intervention but a change in societal mindset.
She urged district-level officers to proactively visit villages for at least one hour every month to interact with local communities, dispel superstitions, and create awareness against social evils. Officers, she said, must go beyond administrative formalities and work with a sense of humanity and social responsibility.
Parida, who also holds charge of the Women and Child Development Department, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a healthy, progressive and superstition-free society for future generations.
Speaking on the occasion, Women and Child Development Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma said strict legal enforcement must go hand in hand with large-scale public awareness initiatives to effectively address deeply rooted social evils.
She emphasised that community participation and consistent engagement at the grassroots level are vital to ensure lasting social change.
