Rajkot remains suicide capital of Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: The suicide capital of Gujarat - Rajkot - is among the top spot in the country as far as suicide rate is concerned. Rajkot has maintained its position despite addition of 14 new cities from 2011 onwards. According to Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) 2012, a publication by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the city has suicide rate of 30.5.

It is only behind Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh (45.1) and Kollam in Kerala (40.5). In 2011, Rajkot had recorded a rate of 27.7. The suicide rate indicates the number of suicides per one lakh population.

Other cities of Gujarat mentioned in the report have suicide rates hovering around 10. Ahmedabad has recorded 9.7 as Surat and Vadodara have recorded 12.1 and 11.4 respectively. The state has suicide rate of 11.8.

Rajkot, considered an industrial hub for Saurashtra, ranks consistently amongst top 5 cities with high suicide rates for the past five years in NCRB's annual publication ADSI.

What drives the residents to suicide? The report says 105 persons ended their lives because of illness, 76 due to family problems and 21 following failed relationships. Among the four cities of the state, Rajkot had the highest number of unemployed (110) ending life. Most of the victims had studied up to class VII.

Sociologists see it as a cultural trend. "Saurashtra clings to tradition and thus suicide by housewives and young members of the family is high as they cannot express themselves freely. Family dispute and matter of pride are often driving forces for ending life," said a Rajkot-based sociologist.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Rajkot-remains-suicide-capital-of-Gujarat/articleshow/20768627.cms