29% increase in daily wage workers suicides in 2 years: Labour Ministry
The increase in incidents needs to be seen in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic during which migrant daily wage workers were amongst the worst hit section
Image: RupakDe Chowdhuri / Reuters
The Minister for Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav, citing data gathered by the National Crime Records Bureau, told the Lok Sabha on Monday that a total of 42,004 daily wage workers died by suicide in 2021. A question was raised by Su. Thirunavukkarasar (INC), seeking details on cases of suicides reported of daily wage workers and whether any steps were being taken by the government to improve their livelihood.
It was observed that in the profession wise break up of number of suicides reported, daily wage workers had the largest chunk not only in 2021 but also in 2020 and 2019. Understandably, the number of suicides plummeted from 2019 to 2021 at an alarming rate. Between 2020 and 2021, the plight of daily wage workers was unspeakable with no real relief from the Centre while they were stranded in the state they migrated to for work and were rendered homeless and jobless, without real health care and trudged along national highways making their way home as people were under a lockdown in their homes. The images of daily wage earners walking barefoot, or on dilapidated bicycles, carrying their young children and babies, with their belongings tied in a ragged sheet still haunt the memories of Indians when one talks about the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is no surprise that reports suicides of daily wage earners was 32,563 in 2019 which rose to 37,666 in 2020 and to 42,004 in 2021. This means there was a 29% increase in daily wage workers suicides in 2021 compared to 2019. While the figures in 2019 itself should be a cause of concern, the exponential rise in two years should have prompted some policy action. This also means that on an average 115 daily wage workers ended their lives in the year 2021. That is a rather staggering figure.
In terms of policy, the Ministry boasts of the e-Shram portal which is a database of unorganized workers, which was prompted by a lack of such a database during the COVID-19 pandemic which made it difficult for any kind of relief to reach these migrant labourers. As per the portal’s website, more than 28 crore people have self registered on this portal. The registration is done by way of an Aadhar card.
The number of suicides among unemployed persons also remains quite high. The numbers rose from 14,019 in the year 2019 to 1,5652 in 2020 and a marginal decline in 2021 (13,714).
Even the cases of suicides among housewives rose from 21,359 in 2019 to 23,179 in 2021; both figures being quite high and a matter of concern and a reason for introspection for the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
People's poor mental health and a weak mental health awareness and redressal system in healthcare are probably contributing to the alarming increase in suicides in the country.
The complete answer may be read here:
Related:
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TN Dalit Youth Suicide: CJP seeks protection for victim’s family
29% increase in daily wage workers suicides in 2 years: Labour Ministry
The increase in incidents needs to be seen in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic during which migrant daily wage workers were amongst the worst hit section
Image: RupakDe Chowdhuri / Reuters
The Minister for Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav, citing data gathered by the National Crime Records Bureau, told the Lok Sabha on Monday that a total of 42,004 daily wage workers died by suicide in 2021. A question was raised by Su. Thirunavukkarasar (INC), seeking details on cases of suicides reported of daily wage workers and whether any steps were being taken by the government to improve their livelihood.
It was observed that in the profession wise break up of number of suicides reported, daily wage workers had the largest chunk not only in 2021 but also in 2020 and 2019. Understandably, the number of suicides plummeted from 2019 to 2021 at an alarming rate. Between 2020 and 2021, the plight of daily wage workers was unspeakable with no real relief from the Centre while they were stranded in the state they migrated to for work and were rendered homeless and jobless, without real health care and trudged along national highways making their way home as people were under a lockdown in their homes. The images of daily wage earners walking barefoot, or on dilapidated bicycles, carrying their young children and babies, with their belongings tied in a ragged sheet still haunt the memories of Indians when one talks about the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is no surprise that reports suicides of daily wage earners was 32,563 in 2019 which rose to 37,666 in 2020 and to 42,004 in 2021. This means there was a 29% increase in daily wage workers suicides in 2021 compared to 2019. While the figures in 2019 itself should be a cause of concern, the exponential rise in two years should have prompted some policy action. This also means that on an average 115 daily wage workers ended their lives in the year 2021. That is a rather staggering figure.
In terms of policy, the Ministry boasts of the e-Shram portal which is a database of unorganized workers, which was prompted by a lack of such a database during the COVID-19 pandemic which made it difficult for any kind of relief to reach these migrant labourers. As per the portal’s website, more than 28 crore people have self registered on this portal. The registration is done by way of an Aadhar card.
The number of suicides among unemployed persons also remains quite high. The numbers rose from 14,019 in the year 2019 to 1,5652 in 2020 and a marginal decline in 2021 (13,714).
Even the cases of suicides among housewives rose from 21,359 in 2019 to 23,179 in 2021; both figures being quite high and a matter of concern and a reason for introspection for the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
People's poor mental health and a weak mental health awareness and redressal system in healthcare are probably contributing to the alarming increase in suicides in the country.
The complete answer may be read here:
Related:
Farmer suicides: From 2019 to 2021, more than 5000 farmers died by suicide each year
MP: Dalit boy dies by suicide, blames teacher’s casteist remarks
TN Dalit Youth Suicide: CJP seeks protection for victim’s family
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Sabrangindia 22 May 2023
