'10 people end their lives every day in Gujarat'

The Congress party in Gujarat on Tuesday sought to corner the Narendra Modi-led government on the issue of suicides in the state.

In a press conference, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Arjun Modhwadia stated that based on the information on cases of suicides in the last 10 years acquired under the Right to Information Act from the state police administration, it had come to light that every day 10 persons end their lives in the state.

Out of every ten persons, 6 are male and 5 are female, the RTI response said.

Asserting that about 71.42 per cent of those who committed suicide were members of a married family, Modhwadia said: 'Suicide by male or female earning member greatly affects economic condition of the entire family. This reflects the condition prevailing across the state.'

'The trend of committing suicides in Gujarat has significantly increased during last few years under BJP rule due to the lack of attention and negligence of administration to look into the problems of the common man and small groups, who are under great financial crisis.'

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The state Congress president stated that 13,486 young boys and girls within age group of 21 to 30 committed suicides, which amounted to 36.2 per cent of total cases of suicides. The rate of suicides within age group of 31 to 40 years is 23.1 per cent. Most of (80 per cent) the persons committing suicides are below age of 40 years.

'This age group generation, which contributes the most in growth of the state, is suffering from various socio-economic problems. The state government should have taken concrete action in this direction.'

As many as 37,248 cases of suicide have been registered in the state during last 10 years, meaning thereby, on an average, 10 persons end their lives per day.

The RTI response reveals that in many of the cases, police records have attributed the cause of suicides as 'unidentified'.

Modhwadia instead cited inadequate healthcare facilities, unemployment and unequal distribution of resources as reasons for the spike in suicide cases in the state.

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Seeking to drive home the Modi government's inept handling of the agricultural sector, Modhwadia pointed out that in the last 10 years, 7,062 farmers committed suicide in the state.

Modhwadia alleged, 'Since some time now, the state government has been snatching away fertile agricultural land from the farmers under the guise of industrial development and acquiring it for millionaire industrialists. Marginal farmers in the state are loosing their land, their lifeline. On the other hand, large industrial houses are procuring agricultural lands at lower rates.'

'Due to delayed monsoon this year, the crop failed hence only within Saurashtra region, the rate of suicides by the farmers have increased at a very high rate. Just within last 60 days, more than 35 farmers committed suicides.'

Other observations:

Every fifth person committing suicide is below 20 years of age. Further, in this age-group, the ratio of women committing suicide is more than males.

15 per cent out of those who commit suicide are engaged with agriculture or agriculture labourer.

If divided into zones, the most number of suicides have been reported from Saurashtra-Kutch.