Number of accidental deaths, suicides grew in 2019: NCRB

Context

  • Recently, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released its annual report on suicides and accidental deaths.

Key Highlights of the Report

Suicides

  • The report highlighted that the cases of suicide and the number of accidental deaths registered an increase across the country in 2019 as compared to 2018.
  • The maximum cases of mass/family suicides were reported from Tamil Nadu (16), followed by Andhra Pradesh (14), Kerala (11) and Punjab (9) and Rajasthan (7).
  • The suicide rate in cities (13.9%) was higher compared to the all-India average.
  • The numbers of suicides in 53 megacities showed an increasing trend during 2016 to 2019, with a 4.6% increase from 2018.

Suicide numbers for Males and Females

  • The total number of male suicides includes daily wage earners (maximum), followed by self-employed persons and the unemployed.
    • Half of the total female suicides were comprised of housewives.
  • The ‘family problems (other than marriage related problems)’ (32.4%); ‘marriage related problems’ (5.5%); and ‘illness’ (17.1%) accounted for 55% of the total suicides.

Suicides Numbers in Different Sectors

  • The suicides by unemployed persons amounting to 14% were in Kerala, followed by 10.8% in Maharashtra, 9.8% in Tamil Nadu, 9.2% in Karnataka and 6.1% in Odisha.
  • The majority of suicides by those in business activities were in Maharashtra (14.2%), Tamil Nadu (11.7%), Karnataka (9.7%), West Bengal (8.2%) and Madhya Pradesh (7.8%).
  • The majority of victims engaged in farming sector were reported in Maharashtra (38.2%), Karnataka (19.4%), Andhra Pradesh (10.0%), Madhya Pradesh (5.3%) and Chhattisgarh & Telangana (4.9% each).

States with decrease in suicide

  • The highest percentage decrease was in Lakshadweep (100%), Himachal Pradesh (21.1%), Chandigarh (18.1%), Arunachal Pradesh (15.2%) and Jammu & Kashmir (13.9%).

Accidental deaths

  • The Accidental deaths in the country increased by 2.3% in 2019 as compared to 2018.
  • The maximum casualties of 30.9% were reported in the 30-45 years age group, followed by 26% in the 18-30 years’ age group.
  • The highest rate was reported from Puducherry (72.8), followed by Chhattisgarh (68.6), Maharashtra (57.4), Haryana (54.3), Goa (51.5) and Madhya Pradesh (51.4).
  • The Accidental deaths caused due to the forces of nature comprised of 35.3% due to lightning, 15.6% by heat/sun stroke and 11.6% deaths in floods.
  • The dangerous/careless driving or overtaking contributed to 25.7% road accidents, claiming 42,557 lives and leaving more than 1 lakh people injured.
  • Chandigarh reported the highest percentage increase (71.1%) in total accidental deaths, followed by Bihar (19.6%), Jharkhand (16.8%), Himachal Pradesh (13.6%) and Kerala (11.8%).
  • The decline was noticed in Nagaland (26.7%), Dadar & Nagar Haveli (23.9%), Arunachal Pradesh (18.9%) and Lakshadweep (16.7%).

Back to Basics

National Crime Records Bureau

  • On the recommendations of the National Police Commission, 1977, the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a Task Force in 1985 to work out the modalities for setting up of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • The NCRB was constituted in 1986 after accepting the recommendations of the task force.
  • The publications of NCRB include, ‘Crime in India’, ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India’, ‘Prison Statistics India’ and ‘Finger Print in India’.
  • NCRB organised CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge 2020 in collaboration with Cyber Peace Foundation.
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