Bhubaneswar: A rising trend has been noticed in the number of suicide cases recorded in Odisha over the last 7 years.
According to the data shared by the Home Department, from 2016 to 2020, Odisha recorded at least 22,600 deaths due to suicide. This means there have been around 4,500 deaths due to suicide in the State every year.
This implies that Odisha witnessed around 380 suicides every month, or 12 suicides a day. While the figures reflect a grim picture, Minister of State (Home), Tusharkanti Behera said that the State police does not have a gender-wise, age group-wise, (bonded labourers, employed and unemployed), etc. breakup of the suicides.
The Minister was responding to question raised by BJP Chief Whip in Odisha Assembly Mohan Majhi, who sought information and breakups on suicide cases in Odisha over the last 7 years. The Minister responded with a written reply and shared the aforementioned figures.