A matter of concern, 1,64,033 suicides in India during 2021 showed an increase of 7.2% in comparison to 2020. The rate of suicides has increased by 6.2% during 2021over 2020. ‘Accidental deaths and suicides in India’ published by National Crime Record Burea under the home ministry reported. 1Lakh people commit suicide in India every year.
Every year, more than 1,00,000 people commit suicide in our country. There are various causes of suicides – professional/career problems, a sense of isolation, abuse, violence, family problems, mental disorders, addiction to alcohol, financial loss, chronic pain, etc are some of them. NCRB collected data on suicides from police-recorded suicide cases.
Maharashtra tops the list with 22,207 suicides followed by 18,925 suicides in Tamil Nadu. 14,965 suicides in Madhya Pradesh, 13,500 suicides in West Bengal, and 13,056 suicides in Karnataka. These 5 States together accounted for 50.4% of the total suicides reported in the country. The remaining 49.6% of suicides in the remaining 23 States and 8 UTs. Uttar Pradesh, the most populous State reported a comparatively lower percentage share of suicidal deaths, accounting for only 3.6% of
the total suicides reported in the country.
Delhi, which is the most-populous UT, has reported the highest number of suicides (2,840) among UTs, followed by Puducherry (504). A total of 25,891 suicides in the 53
megacities of the country during 2021.
Rate of Suicides — Trend in States/UTs
The number of suicides per one lakh population has been widely accepted as a standard yardstick for comparison. All India’s rate of suicides was 12.0 during the year 2021. A & N Islands reported the highest rate of suicide (39.7) followed by Sikkim (39.2), Puducherry (31.8), Telangana (26.9), and Kerala (26.9).
More than 33 % of suicide is due to Family Problem
‘Family Problems’ and ‘Illness’ were the major causes of suicides which accounted for 33.2% and 18.6% of total suicides respectively in 2021. ‘Drug Abuse/Alcoholic Addiction’ (6.4%), ‘Marriage Related Issues’ (4.8%), ‘Love Affairs’ (4.6%), ‘Bankruptcy or Indebtedness’ (3.9%), ‘Unemployment’ (2.2%),‘Failure in Examination’ (1.0%), ‘Professional/Career Problem’ (1.6%) and ‘Poverty’ (1.1%) was other causes of suicides.
Housewives accounted for 51.5% of the total female victims i.e. 23,179 out of 45,026. It constitutes nearly 14.1% of total victims who committed suicides i.e. 23,179 out of 1,64,033 in 2021. Government servants accounted for 1.2% (1,898) as compared to 7.0% (11,431) from Private Sector Enterprises out of 1,64,033 victims for the year 2021 was 72.5: 27.4,
which is more as compared to the year 2020 (70.9: 29.1).
The proportion of female victims was more in ‘Marriage Related Issues’ (specifically in ‘Dowry Related Issues’) and ‘Impotency/Infertility’. The age group (18- 30 years) and persons 30 years – below 45 years of age were the most vulnerable groups resorting to suicide. These age groups accounted for 34.5% and 31.7% of suicides respectively.
‘Family Problems'(3,233), ‘Love Affairs’ (1,495), and ‘Illness’ (1,408) were the main causes of suicides among children (below 18 years of age).
