The Assam government tabled a new legislation 'Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024' in the state assembly aimed at eradicating the non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives for exploiting the innocent people and thereby destroying the fibre of the public health of the society. On behalf of the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma who also holds the Home and Political Department, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika tabled the bill in the state assembly.

The proposed bill seeks to criminalise the evil practice of magical healing by any person with a sinister motive to exploit common people making a cognizable and non-bailable offence punishable with a range of imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh or both. The new bill aims to bring social awakening in the society and to create healthy, science-based knowledge and safe environment to protect human health against the evil and sinister practices thriving on ignorance and ill-health of people and to eradicate the non-scientific healing practices with ulterior motives for exploiting the innocent people and thereby destroying the fibre of the public health of the society.