Lok Sabha Question No. 1709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-09
Subject: Indians Committing Suicide Abroad
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, DALPAT SINGH PARASTE, PARASURAMAN K.

## Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1709

To be answered on 9th December, 2015

Indians Committing Suicide Abroad

+1709. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI R DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE:

SHRI K PARASURAMAN:

Will the Minister of OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether incidents of suicides being committed by Indians working and living abroad particularly in the Gulf countries is on the rise during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year and country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has acquired information about all such incidents from the countries concerned;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the assistance   provided/facilities of  counselling available in the Missions/Posts abroad to such Indians in distress?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS

## ANSWER GENERAL V.K: SINGH (RETD:)

- (a) to (d): As per information received from 164 Indian Missionsl Posts in respect of 142 countries including Gulf Countries by 4th December, 2015, the data on of Indians working and living abroad who have committed suicide during 2013, 2014 and 2015 is given in the Annexure: The figures do not show any significant increase over the yearsThe information is acquired by the Indian Missions from different sources such as the Iocal authorities, family members, etc:

- (e): In order to provide assistance to distressed Indians, the Missionsl Posts have provided the following facilities and assistance:
- Embassy officials regularly undertake visits to various places in order to provide necessary assistance to Indians in distress in deportation centres, jails, labour camps, etc:
- 24x7 Helplines are operated some of the Indian Missions at the Embassy premises: Missions also take up the matter with the Iocal authorities for resolution of their problems: by
- The Ministry of External Affairs has launched an online Consular Grievances Monitoring System; named MADAD, on 21 February 2015, to extend a helping hand to Indians abroad requiring consular assistance: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) work together to address complaints received through MADAD:
- The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is used for providing repatriation
- relief and assistance to the needy Indians in distress, including to India, for meeting expenditure on dispatch of mortal remains in deserving cases, for providing emergency medical treatment to destitute Indians, etc. for

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## Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1709 to be answered on 09.12.2015 regarding "Indians Committing Suicide Abroad" \_

| No.   | Country             | No_ of Indians working & living abroad who have committed suicide   | No_ of Indians working & living abroad who have committed suicide   | No_ of Indians working & living abroad who have committed suicide   |
|-------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No.   | Country             | 2013                                                                | 2014                                                                | 2015                                                                |
| 1     | Armenia             | 1                                                                   | 1                                                                   | Nil                                                                 |
| 2.    | Australia           | 2                                                                   | 5                                                                   | 2                                                                   |
| 3_    | Austria             | 0                                                                   | 0                                                                   | 2                                                                   |
| 4     | Bahrain             | 14                                                                  |                                                                     | 17                                                                  |
| 5 .   | China               | Nil                                                                 |                                                                     | Nil                                                                 |
| 6.    | Egypt               | 1                                                                   | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |
|       | Germany             | 0                                                                   | 1                                                                   |                                                                     |
| 8     |                     | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |                                                                     |
| 9     | Israel              | 2                                                                   | 1                                                                   |                                                                     |
| 10.   | Korea (Republic of) | Nil                                                                 | 1                                                                   | Nil                                                                 |
| 11.   | Kuwait              | 44                                                                  | 35                                                                  | 38                                                                  |
| 12.   | Lebanon             | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 | 2                                                                   |
| 13.   | Malaysia            | 26                                                                  | 38                                                                  | 13                                                                  |
| 14.   | Maldives            | 1                                                                   | 1                                                                   |                                                                     |
| 15.   | Mozambique          | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |                                                                     |
| 16.   | Netherlands         | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |                                                                     |
| 17 .  | New Zealand         | 1                                                                   | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |
| 18.   | Oman                | 54                                                                  | 33                                                                  | 36                                                                  |
| 19.   | Philippines         | Nil                                                                 | 1                                                                   | Nil                                                                 |
|       | Qatar               | 12                                                                  | 13                                                                  | 21                                                                  |
| 21.   | Russian Federation  | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 | 1                                                                   |
| 22.   | Saudi Arabia        | 124                                                                 | 106                                                                 | 107                                                                 |
| 23.   | Seychelles_         | 2                                                                   | Nil                                                                 | Nil                                                                 |
| 24.   | Singapore           | 32                                                                  | 13                                                                  | 13                                                                  |
| 25.   | St. Kitts and Nevis | 0                                                                   | 0                                                                   |                                                                     |
| 26.   | Sudan               |                                                                     | 0                                                                   |                                                                     |
| 27 .  | UAE                 | 181                                                                 | 184                                                                 | 176                                                                 |
|       | TOTAL               | 497                                                                 | 451                                                                 | 436                                                                 |

The rest of the Missions/ Posts who have responded have sent "NIL" reports.

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