Sat Jan 18 13:30:57 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Needs Anti-Superstition Law, Says Scientist
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 18, 2025** – Soumitro Banerjee, general secretary of the Breakthrough Science Society and former director of IISER Kolkata, has called for stronger legislation in Kerala to combat superstition. Following recent high-profile cases of human sacrifice and superstitious practices in the state, Prof. Banerjee stressed the urgent need for laws protecting vulnerable individuals from both physical harm and financial exploitation by those preying on superstitious beliefs.
He emphasized that such legislation should initially target harmful practices, such as exploitative astrology, rather than individual beliefs, which could be interpreted differently across religions. The focus, he argued, should be on preventing physical harm, citing the prevalence of “witch hunts,” and financial fraud.
Prof. Banerjee highlighted the inadequacy of Kerala’s existing education system in fostering scientific temper, noting that even a highly literate state like Kerala continues to grapple with superstition-related issues. He believes the state’s proposed anti-superstition bill should be passed urgently to address this.
Furthermore, Prof. Banerjee urged Kerala to prioritize renewable energy sources, particularly pumped storage projects, over nuclear power plants, citing concerns about nuclear waste disposal. His comments come amidst ongoing debate about the construction of a nuclear power plant in the state. The Breakthrough Science Society, he reiterated, opposes the construction of nuclear power plants.
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