Lok Sabha Question No. 2215 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Suicides by Defence Personnel
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL, MAHEISH GIRRI, P.P. CHAUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2215

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## SUICIDES BY DEFENCE PERSONNEL

2215.

SHRI  KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a)  whether  incidents of suicides and killing of colleagues in the defence forces have come to the notice of the Government;
- (b)  if so, the details of such incidents reported during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c)  whether long term deployment at one place, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern States is responsible for such incidents and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the total number of the defence forces counselled by psychologists during the said period; and
- (e)  the measures taken by the Government to prevent such incidents?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

j{kk jkT; ea=h

¼jko banzthr flag½

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

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK

SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2215 FOR ANSWER ON 11.12.2015 Number  of  incidents  of  suicide  and  fratricide  in  Armed

(a) & (b): Forces during last three years and the current year is as under:-

| Year             | Army    | Army       | Navy    | Navy       | Air Force   | Air Force   |
|------------------|---------|------------|---------|------------|-------------|-------------|
|                  | Suicide | Fratricide | Suicide | Fratricide | Suicide     | Fratricide  |
| 2012             | 95      | 01         | 01      | Nil        | 15          | Nil         |
| 2013             | 86      | 03         | 06      | Nil        | 15          | Nil         |
| 2014             | 84      | 03         | 04      | Nil        | 24          | 01          |
| 2015 (Till date) | 69      | 01         | 01      | Nil        | 13          | Nil         |

(c) The major reasons for such incidents include occupational hazards, family issues / domestic problems, perceived grievances, personal issues, mental built, financial problems and inability to withstand stress. (d) A  large  number  of  officers  have  been  trained,  as  Counsellors,  to provide  psychological  counselling  to  the  defence  personnel  and  their families.  Civilian psychological counsellors have also been employed, to provide mental health services.  A Psychologist, visit units and formations from time to time and carries out psychological counselling, individually and at times in groups. (e) Government has taken various measures to prevent such incidents. Some  of  these  measures  include:    improvement  in  living  and  working conditions through provision of better infrastructure and facilities; additional  family  accommodation,  liberalized  leave  policy,  establishing a grievance redressal mechanism, provision of counselling by psychological  counsellors,  conduct  of  yoga,  meditation  as  part  of  unit routine etc.

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