250 women commit suicides during 2010-12 in J&K

250 women commit suicides during 2010-12 in J&K
Nitesh Sangral
JAMMU, Oct 18: Nearly 250 women have committed suicide in Jammu and Kashmir between 2010-2012, mainly because of physiological pressures and harassment by their relatives and husbands. The Social Welfare Department along with the state police is organizing regular awareness camps to educate people about different schemes of the government to curb the practice. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo said that a total of 230 suicides by women have been reported between as per the official data. "During 2010-11 to 2011-12, 230 suicide deaths among women have been reported in the state," Itoo said. However officials said that data could be above 250, as many of the cases have not been incorporated in the data of Social Welfare, as they have happened in last few months. “Nearly 406 camps have been organized to generate awareness among women about their rights, and benefits of the schemes of the department,” Itoo said. It is pertinent to mention here that during a study conducted by the Health Department about two years back Jammu region was leading the state with the number of suicide cases. As per the data in year 2008-2009, 122 youth had committed suicide while in 2009-2010, 118 youth committed suicide across the state. In Jammu district alone 31 persons had ended their life in 2008 alone while the figure was 22 in 2009. Later concerned with the trend, state had approached Union Government which has approved the grant of Rs 8.50 crore for up gradation of academic, clinical and diagnostic facilities at the Psychiatric Hospitals in district level. Officials said that more such clinics have been planned in other districts of the state. When contacted Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma said, “Mental health is an important sector for which the government is making every effort to provide adequate infrastructure. We are allocating additional funds for the purpose”. At the moment many NGOs including “Doctors without Borders” are offering free consultations and counseling to the people, while various seminars and symposia are being conducted by Government and semi-government agencies to educate the people.