Nearly 600 Indian military suicides in 5 years
Some 597 Indian servicemen committed suicide between 2009 and 2013 while 1,349 officers quit the army during the same period, the Times of India reported on Tuesday.
The figures were released by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in the upper house of parliament or Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the newspaper said.
From 2009 to 2013, 597 armed forces personnel committed suicide—498 from the army, 83 from the air force and 16 from the navy, Jaitley told the upper house members.
The highest number of suicides took place in the army in 2010 when 116 troops committed suicide but the number came down to 86 in 2013, according to the figures given by the minister in a written reply.
The army, which is the largest of the three services, also saw 1,349 officers quitting the force taking premature retirement in the last five years.
The number of officers who had applied for premature retirement was 2,215 but only 1,349 such requests were granted by the force.
Jaitley said the government has taken several measures to create the appropriate environment for the defence personnel so that they can perform their duties without any mental stress.
“Some of these include improvement in living and working conditions through provision of better infrastructure and facilities, liberalised leave policy, establishing a grievance redressal mechanism and conduct of yoga as per unit routine,” the defence minister said.
Meanwhile, answering another query, Jaitley said the air force lost 19 fighter aircraft in the last three years, including 12 MiG-series fighter planes in which five service personnel were killed along with one civilian.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (19)
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Government should take necessary action as per arun defence minister. Because they are sacrificing their life for our protection without enjoying their life as like us. without the defence the country will face severe problems. I request government the reduce the eligibility of joining in defence, because most youngters are interested in joining defece...........
WE GET PRIDE ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS..........................
Chinese army reported huge number of suicides in Asia. You will be surprised to know the number of suicides in Pak army
While I can understand the Schadenfreude being expressed here by Pakistani readers -- they derive extreme joy at any negative news from across the border, this piece of news about suicides in the army is no news for most Indians who are well informed and also critical about much of what happens in the country. Indeed, suicides in the armed forces, whether in India, USA, Russia, China, etc. are, unfortunately, a sad and common occurrence. But a so-called self-touting democratic government or an non-transparent army, such as that in Pakistan, will make you believe that everything is hunky dory with its armed forces. I would recommend your readers to read reports of independent international organizations that keep track of social problems in the armed forces of individual countries. Your stomach will churn inside at what happens in the Pakistani armed forces. Perhaps, Pakistanis (including journalists, who should be professionally curious to ferret out facts from their government or the military or whatever the powers be) should also ask for details of suicides and other irregularities in their armed forces. It is a well-known fact that suicides and "disappearances" in the Pakistani armed forces, particularly the army, are extremely high. India has passed a Right of Information Act under which every citizen can claim information which was, once, categorized as classified. Does Pakistan know of such a thing? It would be good thing, in the interest of Pakistan's civil liberties, if educated Pakistanis, instead of ranting and venting out their pent-up hatred and, worse, envy against India and Indians, as is obvious from their above comments, would enquire about the skeletons lying in their own backyard.
Indian army personals join army to get a government job and source of income due to poor social condition and unemployment. Posting them to far areas and unavailability of leaves and income compensations is another major reason of suicides. No only this India has the highest ration of bomb blasts due to domestic extremist and terrorist groups prevailing on the basis on 114 independence movements. India is among the most dangerous countries in the world that needs more social development rather than equipping military.
The comments prove how people get fooled by statistics. Some students, housewives, businessmen, farmers commit suicide too as do those serving in the defence forces.There is nothing extraordinary about the above data considering that the Indian defence personnel number over 1.2 million.
Looks like people who have commented on this article have a brain of a 10 year old... A lot of countries have this issues including yours and your beloved friend china as well as America and Britain... What is important is that you find the reasons and minimize it or address the root cause...
wherein the suicide rate in defence force is increasing year on year other factors of torture like referring the soldiers to Defence Psychatirc wards, stopping their leaves, putting them on hard duties, and last but not the least hitting them bruatally as in the recent case of Kashmir.
Sodiers seems to have no options as all the grievances machnism is controlled by officers and literally run by officers recommendation. hence soldiers are left with no options than commit suicide or moving to psychiatric ward of defence Hospital. unfortunately some of the soldiers get into fragging that is highly immoral.
@the Skunk:
If the Indian Army is incapable to meet the regional powers, then Indian should disband its army instead of spending huge funds in arms race.
Rumour has it,its been years since half of them took a dump somewhere inside.
@Someone:
That's simply TRUE :)
The Indian army is surrounded by Pakistan, Kashmir, Central Asian states in the Northwest, and China in the Northeast, and Bangladesh in the east. This is leading to too much pressure on the forces, hence, the trend towards desertion, suicides, and psychiatric care. Salams
So many suicides show, they don't feel any honor serving their country. to them, its just a full time distressing job perhaps.
Keep it up! You guys are your own worst enemy..
china - 2367 pakistan - 432
And the these suicide cases shall increase in the future in Indian army because Indian army is engaged in the useless war in Disputed Kashmir and Indian troops have been psychologically and mentally sick by fighting a useless war in Disputed Kashmir......
Growing suicide trend in Indian army, I think Pakistan and China doesn't need to fight with Indian armies. 600 Indian military suicides in 5 years, something really astonishing. I guess Modi and Shive Sina should get rid of aggressive policies.
There will be more suicides in the Indian armed forces unless India gives up its occupation of Indian-occupied Kashmir.
As usual they will blame the suicides on Pakistan.