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Suicides shoot up 62 per cent in 10 years

Life, we Indians seem to be increasingly concluding, is just not worth living. Better to get it over with fast, what, than drag on depressed and distressed...

And so we have figures, suicide figures, climbing hysterically. Well... the hysterical part may be an exaggeration, but the statistics sure is rising. Alarmingly.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of suicide cases has shot up from 54,357 in 1986 to 88,241 in 1996. An increase of 62.34 per cent.

Between 1986-96, the incidence of suicide rose at a compound rate of 5.2 per cent as against the population, which grew at a compound rate of 2.02 per cent. West Bengal, with 14,082 cases, was right on top, accounting for 15.96 per cent of the total suicides in the country.

The states that followed close on heels were Maharashtra (11,216), Tamil Nadu (9,003), Karnataka (8,820) and Kerala (8,086).

These five states together accounted for 58 per cent of the suicides reported in the country.

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have a higher population, reported comparatively lower percentage. In 1996, these recorded just 5.07 and 1.03 per cent respectively, of the total.

Among the Union Territories, Delhi reported the highest number (958) followed by Pondicherry (519). There was no suicide in Lakshadweep.

Among the cities, Bombay (1,086), Madras (912) and Delhi (799) hogged the top slots. On an average, two to three suicides were reported a day in these cities.

Illness (20.14 per cent) and family trouble (18.88) were two main crises that people were unable to cope with. The other significant factors that led to suicides were love affairs (4.16 per cent), poverty (3.51), failure in examinations (2.65), dowry (2.47) and property disputes (2.13 per cent).

The male-female ratio of suicide victims in 1996 stood at 58:42.

Suspected illicit relations, marriage, not having children, death of dear ones, dowry dispute, divorce, illegitimate pregnancy and physical abuse were among the reasons for females taking their lives.

Men, on the other hand, were driven to death by bankruptcy, drug abuse, fall in social reputation, professional problems, property dispute and unemployment.

Dowry disputes and illegitimate pregnancies were also cited as reasons for some suicides by men.

Youths (15-29 years) and middle-aged people (30-44 years) were the prime groups resorting to suicide. Of the total, around 38 per cent of the victims were youths and 33 per cent middle-aged persons.

Among children, below 14 years, more girls (1,721) than boys (1,683) took their lives. Failure in examinations was the main reason for their action.

Housewives accounted for 22 per cent of the victims. Nearly 64 per cent of the total were married while 23 per cent were never married. Divorced and separated people, and widows and widowers each constituted around six per cent.

In the unmarried and separated categories, 61 per cent of the victims were males. Among the married category more males (58 per cent) than females committed suicide. And in the divorced group, more females (823) than males (678) resorted to the extreme step.

Most of the victims (76 per cent) were uneducated or had low education (up to middle class). Only 23 per cent of the victims had passed matriculation.

Hanging (26 per cent), consumption of insecticides (19 per cent) and other poisons (18 per cent) were the most favoured means to call it quits.

UNI

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