Students Suicide Rate In India Higher Than Farmers, Surpasses Population Growth: Report

The number of student suicides in India have surpassed the population growth rate and overall suicide trends, as per a latest report.

The number of student suicides in India have surpassed the population growth rate and overall suicide trends, as per a latest report. Representational Image.

Source : PTI

Incidents of student suicides in India have witnessed a sharp increase and has surpassed the population growth rate and overall suicide trends, according to a new report. A report, "Student suicides: An epidemic sweeping India," was launched at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024 on Wednesday based on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.

The report highlighted that over the past two decades, student suicides have grown at an "alarming" annual rate of 4 per cent which is double the national average. The report was compiled by IC3 Institute.

As per the report, the overall suicide numbers increased by 2 per cent annually, student suicide cases surged by 4 per cent, despite a likely "under reporting" of student suicide cases.

The report also underlined that student suicides were more than farmer suicides, as per the 2021 data.

Here Are Key Points From The Report

• As per the report, the 2021 NCRB report recorded a total of 13,089 student suicides, showing an increase of 4.5 per cent from the previous year's numbers.
• The incidence of student suicides surpassed both population growth rates and overall suicide trends. Over the last decade, the number of student suicides increased from 7,696 to 13,089, the report stated.
• In the year 2021, male students constituted 57 per cent of the total student suicides. However, it is pertinent to mention that, as per the report, comprehensive and accurate data collection, recording, and reporting are imperative for transgender students, as their specific situation remains relatively under-represented in the data.
• Notably, the year 2021 saw a total of 13,089 student suicides, while 10,881 farmer suicides were recorded in the country.

Maharashtra Sees Highest Student Suicides

The report, based on NCRB data, revealed that Maharashtra reported the highest number of student suicides at 1,834, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 1,308 suicides, Tamil Nadu with 1,246, Karnataka with 855, and Odisha with 834.

On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh recorded a comparatively lower percentage of student suicide cases, constituting only 5.3% of the nationwide total. This is particularly significant considering that the population of UP constitutes 17.3% of the country.