The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Kerala, seeking a report on the alarming increase in suicides among tribal people residing on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, with about 23 deaths reported in 2024 alone.
In a letter, the Commission asked the authorities to submit a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.“The comprehensive report is expected to include the status of the FIRs registered in these cases as well as the arrests of the perpetrators,” the NHRC said.
The Commission also requested information on the status of compensation, if any, provided to the next of kin of the deceased.“The state government is also expected to inform about the steps taken or proposed to prevent such incidents from recurring. The response from the authorities is expected within two weeks,” it added.
Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the alarming increase in suicides among tribal people residing on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district, with about 23 deaths reported in 2024 alone, the NHRC noted that, according to rough estimates, approximately 138 suicides occurred predominantly in Peringammala Panchayat in the district between 2011 and 2022.
“After two years of relative calm, the string of suicides has now returned to haunt the tribal settlements in the district,” the NHRC said.
The Commission noted that the contents of the media report, if true, point to a serious issue concerning the right to life and the social, economic, and cultural rights of Scheduled Tribes residing in the region.
“Suicides among young people belonging to a vulnerable section of society indeed constitute a violation of human rights and require immediate attention from government agencies. The State is duty-bound to ensure the safety and security of every citizen under its jurisdiction,” the NHRC emphasised.
According to the media report dated December 25, the majority of those who ended their lives belonged to the 20–30 age group. The report highlighted several instances of such suicides. Allegedly, as reported by families and tribal activists, tremendous stress arising from extreme social scenarios, coupled with pressure and harassment related to marriages and relationships outside the community, as well as the proliferation of liquor and sex rackets, have contributed to these suicides. (UNI)<>