Panel led by minister to effectively implement the Act

Taking note of the non implementation of the AntiSuperstition and Black Magic Act in the last 5 years, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed the administration to strictly implement it. He has also approved Rs 10 crore for the publicity and promotion of this Act. To effectively implement and monitor it, the state government will form a special high-powered committee. Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde will be its chairman and well-known anti-superstition activist Shyam Manav will be its co-chairman.

Pawar reviewed the

implementation of this Act at a high level meeting attended by Akhilbhartiya Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti founder Shyam Manav and Social Justice Secretary Parag Jain. It was also decided that a coordination committee would be set up at the state, division and district level. Manav is considered as pioneer of the Anti-superstition Act in the state.

The Congress and NCP government had passed Act in 2013 to check human sacrifice, improper practices and black magic. After the passage of the Act in 2013, Pawar, then as the finance minister, made a

provision of Rs 10 crore for its effective propagation. But the Fadnavis government did not release the fund and made the state-level committee literally non functional.

These committees will organise training for police officers and journalists about this Act. "We should make the common man, intellectuals and students aware about it. We need to focus on extending scientific temper among all. The coordination committees at different levels will work hard for implementation and propagation of this Act," said Munde. -FPJ Political Bureau