Suicides due to Job loss in 2020

February 10, 2022

As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the first pandemic year, 2020, witnessed the highest number of suicides among unemployed in recent past.

Key Points

The suicides toll has crossed 3,000-mark for the first time.
As per written reply of Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai, 3548 people died by suicide.
Total number of suicides in 2020 was 1.53 lakh as opposed to 1.39 lakh in 2019.

Suicide due to indebtedness

In between 2018 and 2020, 16,091 died by suicide because of bankruptcy or indebtedness. In 4970 people died, 5908 in 2019 while 5213 in 2020.

States with highest suicides

As per NCRB data, in 2020, highest number of suicides among unemployed was reported from Karnataka (720). It is followed by Maharashtra (625), Tamil Nadu (336), Assam (234), and Uttar Pradesh (227).
While in suicides due to indebtedness or bankruptcy, Maharashtra topped the list with 1341 deaths. It is followed by Karnataka (1,025), Telangana (947), Andhra Pradesh (782) and Tamil Nadu (524).
Except Tamil Nadu, other states usually account for most farmer suicides.

Suicides among the unemployed

As per NCRB data, suicides among unemployed has been increasing year by year:

In 2019, the toll was 2851
In 2018, there were 2741 suicides
2404 suicides in 2017
2298 suicides in 2016
2723 suicides in 2015 and
2207 in 2014.

How is government addressing the issue?

Government is addressing this issue by focusing on mental health and creating employment opportunities.

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)

Government is implementing the “National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)” for addressing the burden of mental disorders. Under NMHP, government is supporting implementation of District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) across 692 districts in India. NMHP aims to provide suicide prevention services, life-skills training & counselling in schools & colleges, workplace stress management, mental health services such as prevention, promotion & long-term continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.

Government’s steps for employment generation

Government has been running a number of programmes for employment and income generation through Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), National Career Service (NCS) project for job-matching, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission.

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