HelpSend.Us

I read a New York Times news article this morning about the alarmingly high rate of suicide in one of India’s states. The article focused mostly on the political reasons many smart young individuals are ending their lives. There is a big debate going on in India over Telangana, a region of Andhra Pradesh in India. I do not know enough about India culture to comment on the situation, other than that it makes me very curious. Why are there so many people giving up their lives for this cause? What sort of impact do such actions take on family members and the local community? It seems to me there have to be other ways of seeking change in that Indian state that don’t include the taking of one’s life?

In a 2008 report (the latest available from India’s National Crime Records Bureau [NCRB]) there were 342 suicides per day in all of India. That’s over 120,000 for the year. One of the places we plan to visit in October is the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is number three for having the highest number of suicides for the country, 14,354 people or 11.5% of all of India’s suicides for 2008. Here is a list facts for those 14,354 suicides:

Ages:

• 213 were children up to age 14.
• 4,596 were ages 15-29.
• 5,253 were ages 30-44.
• 3,215 were 45-59.
• 1,077 were 60 and above.

Reasons:

• 661 – Bankruptcy or Sudden Change in Economic Status
• 62 – Cancellation/Non-Settlement of Marriage
• 58 – Not having Children (Barrenness/Impotency)
• 26 – Death of Dear a Person
• 153 – Dowry Dispute
• 29 – Divorcee
• 223 – Failure in Examination
• 50 – Drug Abuse/Addiction
• 2,622 – Family Problems
• 58 – Fall in Social Reputation
• 8 – Ideological Causes/Hero Worship
• 7 – Illegitimate Pregnancy
• 1 – Physical Abuse (Rape, Incest Etc.)
• 1,505 – suicides were because of poverty.
• 268 – Love Affairs
• 117 – Property Dispute
• 768 – Causes Not Known

Location, Demographics, Other:

• 533 people in the city of Hyderabad
• 97 people were part of “family suicides.” 26 of those were children.
• 9,721 were male
• 4,633 were female
• 2,516 were housewives
• 481 Students
• 571 Unemployed
• 6,098 were self employed, 2,105 of them were farmers
• 2,367 were never married
• 10,569 were married
• 804 were widowed

My heart goes out to the people of India touched by suicide. My heart breaks when I think about the sadness and desperation that was there to cause these people to give up their lives. I hope that in our going to India this October we can help bring hope to those who need it. A large part of the trip’s goal will be to find ways we can help those in need for future trips that may include digging fresh water wells, micro-financing options for farmers and small business start ups, medical clinics, building community centers and holding community education programs.

If you would like to help send us on our trip please donate now. You can also shop online and have a percentage of what you spend go towards our trip by clicking on the links on our shop page.

Always Learning,
-joel