The suicide rate in Kashmir is increasing alarmingly with maximum number of suicides taking place in Kashmir. Alarmingly the main reason for suicides are domestic problems including post- marital discord and intergenerational conflicts says a report.
A report on “Emerging Trends of Suicide in Kashmir”by noted Sociologist , Prof B A Dabla a copy of which is lying in The Kashmir Monitor office says that various problems were contributing to the increasing suicide rate in Kashmir with 31.75 percent suicides having taken place due to the domestic problems during the last decade.
Prof. Dabla told The Kashmir Monitor the suicide rate in Kashmir was more than states like Maharashtra and Gujarat where farmers attempt suicide in a large scale.
“Our states over the years have witnessed an increase in the number of suicides even more than that of states including Gujarat and Maharashtra. The number can grow even more as the government has not done any census type survey in case of suicides,” he said.
It further adds that 29.50 percent took place due to the marital discords while 25.25 percent due to the intergenerational conflicts during 2000 to 2014.The report says that 8.5 percent suicides took place due to the intergenerational conflicts and five percent due to other reasons including love affairs.
Further 40 percent of suicides have taken place in Srinagar and Anantnag districts due to the reasons of domestic problems with minimum in Kulgam 22.5 percent. In Srinagar 37.50 percent suicides cases have been reported in a decade due to the post marital discord and a minimum of 17.50 percent in Bandipora district.
Suicides due to intergeneration conflicts were recorded maximum in Kupwara district i.e. 35 percent and minimum in Srinagar (12.5 percent).Suicides due to failure in examinations, have been reported maximum in Bandipora district ( 20 percent) and minimum in Shopian ( 2.5 percent)
Suicides due to other reasons (such as love affairs etc) maximum in District Pulwama 10 percent and minimum 2.5 percent in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts.
The report further reveals hanging was mostly used by 32.50 percent suicide makers, followed by consuming poison by 30.75 percent, jumping in river by 28.25 percent, shooting 5.50 percent and other methods by 3 percent.
“ The findings of this study leads us to develop a proposition that taking into consideration number of suicides and attempts of suicide makers, the intensity of this social trend was very high,” it states.
He said that in various cases the suicide makers have attempted several times to end their lives.
“Some of the suicide makers survive in the first and second attempt an even third attempt. Thus in the deadly process, while some died, other survived. They later commit suicide again to make sure their death. That shows the high intensity of suicides in Kashmir in all area, all groups and communities,” he said.
Dabla said that the Non-Governmental Organisation have failed in working this area to minimize the suicidal rate in Kashmir.
“They are supposed to serve the social cause.They could have made strong campaign against the increasing suicides in Kashmir by making people aware through religious knowledge which strictly prohibits it. Nobody is here raising voice to curb the growing suicide rate,” he said.
He said the government can also play important role by identifying the reasons behind suicides and act accordingly to minimize it.
“Government can identify the long term reasons like unemployment, poverty insecurity which contribute to the increasing suicide rate in Kashmir. It can take various measure to end these problems but our government doesn’t seem to be in a mood to work on it,” Dabla said.
Kashmir sees more suicides than Gujarat, Maharashtra
