|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
Despite Vandana Shiva’s statement that 1997 saw the first emergence of farm suicides in India, this is not accurate. In reality, farmers and farm workers had always been just as susceptible to suicide as the rest of the general population. The number of farmer suicides, though it has increased in recent years, merely follows the trend of the country as a whole. Suicide on a national level increased 46.9% from 1990 to 2001. Kerala, India’s most literate state has averaged 8500 suicides every year since 1990. Since the National Crime Records Bureau began maintaining records on accidential and self-inflicted deaths in 1967, the steady rise in suicide has become apparent. The statistics of suicide in the country are horrendous – 6 to 9/100,000 in late 1970s ; 12/100,000 in late 1980s ; 9.73 /100,000 in 1990s ‘ 10.03/100,000 in 1997. In Kerala, 29.3/100000 committed suicide as compared to the national average of 10.8/100,000 in 1998. Although Kerala is more technologicall advanced than most other states, many people there still suffer from certain health disorders, often stress-related, as a result of a change in their way of life. This can be considered a “growing pain” of industrialization, however. Progress brings change, and change brings stress. Many suicide deaths in India are reported as accidents, or as of natural causes due to the social stigma surrounding suicide. Pressure for academic acheievement and success presents a serious problem to students who are unprepared to cope with the unrealistic demands of their parents. As a result of this, students comprise a significant portion of suicide victims in India. In fact, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, 36.6% of suicides were those of students due to “failure in examination.” Attempting to encourage rigid families to adapt to change and relinquish a bit of their old ways may be extremely difficult, but it would lead to less stress for children. General suicide rates increased every year from 1990 to 1996. There were 73,911 in 1990 and 108,593 in 2000. Interestingly, housewives comprise 20% of the total suicides and 42% of female suicides.
Approximate Word count = 1370
Approximate Pages = 5.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|