Lok Sabha Question No. 1692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Suicide Cases in Defence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1692

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## SUICIDE  CASES  IN  DEFENCE

1692.  DR. A. SAMPATH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of suicide and fratricide cases reported in the armed forces during the last three years;
- (b) whether the Government has taken steps to stop such incidents; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (c): A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1692 FOR ANSWER ON 13.2.2019

- (a) The details of number of incidents of suicide and fratricide cases in the armed forces during the last three years are as under:

| Year   | Army                           | Army                    | Navy                            | Navy                    | Air Force                      | Air Force               |
|--------|--------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------|
|        | No. of Suspected Suicide Cases | No. of Fratricide Cases | No. of Suspecte d Suicide Cases | No. of Fratricide Cases | No. of Suspected Suicide Cases | No. of Fratricide Cases |
| 2016   | 104                            | 02                      | 06                              | Nil                     | 19                             | 01                      |
| 2017   | 75                             | 01                      | 05                              | Nil                     | 21                             | Nil                     |
| 2018   | 80                             | 01                      | 08                              | Nil                     | 16                             | Nil                     |

(b) & (c): Various steps have been taken by the Armed Forces to create healthy  and  favourable    environment  for  their  Officers  and  Other  Ranks. Some of these steps are as under:-

- -Provision  of  better  quality  of  facilities  such  as  clothing,  food, married accommodation, travel facilities, schooling, recreation etc. and periodic welfare meeting.
- -Conduct of yoga and meditation as a tool for stress management.
- -Training and deployment of psychological counsellors.
- -Institutionalization of projects 'MILAP' and 'SAHYOG' by Army in  Northern  &  Eastern  Command  to  reduce  stress  among troops.
- -A 'Mansik Sahayata Helpline' has been established by Army & Air Force to take professional counselling.
- -Mental  Health  Awareness  is  provided  during  pre-induction training.
- -Formation  of  Military  Psychiatry  Treatment  Centre  at  INHS Asvini and establishment of Mental Health Centres in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Port Blair, Goa and Karwar.
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