Suicide: A Growing Concern in Sikkim

Suicide: A Growing Concern in Sikkim

Binod Bhattarai

Despite of economic progress and prosperity in the tranquil Himalayan region, the State of Sikkim now a day has been crippling by the rise of suicide cases. The latest report of Chennai based Regional Representative of World Health Organisation revealed that, Sikkim is the state in the country which has the highest suicide rate of 48.2 per lakh of population. In the series, Sikkim is followed by Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Kerala with the suicide rate of 46.9, 34.5, and 25 per lakh of population respectively. As per the Sikkim CID Police data to be had by the state health department, about 124 suicide cases were reported in 2007, 287 in 2008 and 241 in 2009, which are ominously elevated figure for a tiny state like Sikkim with a population of nearly six lakhs.

In Sikkim if we pore over the views of various connoisseurs, they explained that most of the suicidal cases in the State were the result of substance abuse, narcotics and alcohol use, mental illness and depression followed by family problems, drug addiction, prolonged illness, failure in examinations and love affairs etc. But here the things are different than what they actually supposed.

 At this juncture now, it is essential to understand the social analysis of suicide as a social problem. In this situation the significant work of Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist can't be forgotten. As per Durkheim's view simply, 'suicide' means 'self destruction'. But it reveals something lots. At least after the serial suicidal death of Sikkimese, it didn't remain confine to merely 'self destruction' - the simple means of suicide. If we go by Durkheim, suicide is a social fact and not simply an individual act but a product of social forces external to the individual. In fact, He rejects the various extra social factors such as heredity, climate, depression, abnormal behavior, mental alienation, racial characteristics and imitation as the cause of suicide. Even 'Poverty' - the most general cause of suicide, as presented by media and politicians behind the every case of suicide, has been utterly rebutted by him. He, for simple understanding, argues that the greater the integration of individuals within the social group the less likely they are to commit suicide.

Apparently, one thing must be raised in our mind that why Durkheim negates poverty as one of the causes of suicide. If we believe at least some amount on a survey report conducted by the agency of the Govt. of India that reveals most developed states have more suicide rate as compared to the most backward states. In 2001, Maharashtra (14618), Karnataka (11881), Tamil Nadu (11290), Andhra Pradesh (10522) have highest suicide rates respectively. On the other hand all tribal dominated states like Arunachal Pradesh (111), Manipur (41), Mizoram (54), and the most backward states like Bihar (603) and Jharkhand (250) have very less suicide rate. The place Kalahandi in Orissa at one time was the center of attention in media only because of serial deaths of persons and children due to hungry and malnutrition respectively. But it is quiet surprising that no suicide case was reported from Kalahandi at that time.

In addition to this, as per the ' Situation Assessment Survey of Farmers' conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation in 2003, the average monthly income (excluding rent, interest, dividend etc.) from all sources per farmer household ranged from Rs.1, 062.00 in the state of Orissa to Rs. 5,488.00 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the agriculture year of 2002 - 03 and the all India average are Rs.2, 115.00.

To compare the average monthly income of per farmer household in Maharashtra (Rs.2, 463.00) and Gujarat (Rs.2, 684.00) from backward states like Bihar (Rs.1, 810.00), Orissa (1,062), Rajasthan (Rs. 1,498) and Madhya Pradesh (1,430.00), it can be easily revealed that lower monthly income is not a causative factor of suicide. By analyzing these statements it can be said that Durkheim is very close to the truth.

Then, what are the causes of suicides?

According to him, this kind of suicide falls within the purview of 'Anomic Suicide' - one of the classifications of suicide. In fact, anomic suicide results from normlessness or deregulation in society. Although this kind of suicide occurs during industrial and financial crises, it is not because they cause poverty, since crises of prosperity have the same result but because they are crises of the collective order. If poverty and starvation are really the adequate causes of suicide then the suicide rate in all backward states should have been high but it is not. Further he says that poverty protects against suicide because it is a restraint itself. The less one has the less he is tempted to extend the range of his needs. Sociologically, the incident of suicides in Sikkim is actually the result of the combined effect of 'Relative deprivation' and 'Sudden crises', which came in the category of anomic suicide. Significantly, the feeling of relative deprivation is the outcome of westoxication and conspicuous consumption and these feelings has been augmented by the present market policy of Globalization. And it is one of the major drawbacks of the Westernization. One thing that is essentially noticeable that mainly middle class people have been committed suicide in that the effect of relative deprivation has fallen greater on them.

Now, what should be the solutions of this menace?

The effects of modernization, specifically in Sikkim, have led to sweeping changes in the socioeconomic, socio-philosophical and cultural arenas of people's lives, which have greatly added to the stress in life, leading to substantially higher rates of suicide. Rapid urbanization, industrialization and emerging family systems are resulting in social upheaval and distress. The diminishing traditional support systems leave people vulnerable to suicidal behavior. Hence, there is an emerging need for external emotional support. The enormity of the problem combined with the paucity of mental health service has led to the emergence of NGOs in the field of suicide prevention. The primary aim of these NGOs should be, to provide the support to suicidal individuals by befriending them. Apart from befriending suicidal individuals, the NGOs should also undertake the education and raising awareness in the public and media.

Enhance the physical interaction between government functionaries and village society by insisting on more tours, night halts and Gram Sabhas by officers at all levels of the administration. Active monitoring through NGOs should be there in every village for the signs of social, economic and psychological distress and provide time to time social, psychological or spiritual counseling. Such monitoring and counseling on village should be made on a regular and routine basis. Increase efficiency of various services that are delivered by the government in the name of people’s welfare, namely, improve the infrastructural development in the  villages, increase the number of primary health centres, provide better roads, safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition and family planning etc.

For the long – term change, it is important to improve the condition of education in the state. Although, Sikkim has the literacy rate of 82 percent but the real erudite in the state are very few. In this case, it would be fruitful if it would provide value as well as vocational education, atleast at the school level to the students to understand and utilize it for their own benefit in the complexities of present day production and marketing techniques.

Ironically, Sikkim is a state where most of the people are heavily dependent on the Government for fulfilling their basic chuck of life. So it would be better if the government makes its citizens self – dependent and unswerving by opening of various boulevards in the field of social and economic development in the state.

An important mechanism in generating a suicide epidemic is the constant highlighting of instances of suicide. Therefore, it is important to counsel the media to stop highlighting suicide since the fact of highlighting suicide itself adds fuel to the suicide fire as it were.

Despite of significant advancements in science and technology and of material wealth, it is a sad indictment that we are not able to control suicides in our society. Suicide is a multifaceted problem and hence suicide prevention programmes should also be on multidimensional. Collaboration, coordination, cooperation and commitment are needed to develop. It is a time for civil society to espouse proactive and leadership roles in suicide prevention and save the lives of thousands of young Sikkimese.   

(Author is a Research Scholar at Department of Sociology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry and can reach at bhattaraibinod3@gmail.com )