Content
- World Suicide Prevention Day
- Blue Waves of Progress
World Suicide Prevention Day
Context
- Observed on: 10th September every year since 2003.
- Initiating body: International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), co-sponsored by WHO.
- Purpose: Raise awareness, foster compassion, reduce stigma, and promote collective action – underlining that suicide is preventable.
- Global Data (WHO, 2021):
- 727,000+ deaths annually.
- For every suicide death, ~20 attempts.
- Suicide = 3rd leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
- Triennial Theme (2024–2026): “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” – focus on countering myths, stigma, and silence with openness and empathy.
Relevance :
- GS II (Health, Social Justice): National Suicide Prevention Strategy, Tele-MANAS, RKSK.
- GS III (Science & Tech): Use of telemedicine, digital platforms in mental health.
- GS IV (Ethics & Society): Compassion, empathy, duty towards vulnerable groups.
Suicide in India – Magnitude and Trends
- Share of Global Burden:
- ~1/3rd of global female suicides.
- ~1/4th of global male suicides.
- Annual deaths: ~100,000+ lives lost in India.
- NCRB Data (2017–2022):
- Suicide rate rose from 9.9 per lakh (2017) → 12.4 per lakh (2022).
- Geographic Variations (2022):
- Bihar: lowest (0.6/100,000).
- Sikkim: highest (43.1/100,000).
- Cities: Vijayawada (42.6/100,000), Kollam (42.5/100,000) top rates.
- Demographics: Youth, women, farmers, students, daily wage earners among most vulnerable groups.
Drivers and Risk Factors
- Individual: Mental illness (depression, bipolar, substance abuse), chronic illness, lack of coping skills.
- Socio-economic: Poverty, unemployment, debt (esp. among farmers), academic stress, urban isolation.
- Socio-cultural: Stigma around mental health, gender-based violence, dowry harassment, caste discrimination.
- Structural: Poor access to mental health services, shortage of professionals (India has ~1 psychiatrist per 100,000 vs WHO norm of 3).
National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS), 2022
- Vision: Reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030 (aligned with WHO’s SDG target).
- Approach: Multi-sectoral (health, education, social justice, women & child, labour, media).
- Key Components:
- Universal screening in primary care and schools.
- Restriction of access to means (pesticides, railway tracks).
- Responsible media reporting guidelines.
- Strengthening mental health services at all levels.
- Special focus on vulnerable groups (youth, LGBTQ+, farmers).
National Programmes Supporting Prevention
- Tele-MANAS (2022):
- Tele-Mental Health helpline across states/UTs.
- 53 operational cells, >1 million calls handled.
- District Mental Health Programme (DMHP):
- Covers 767 districts, providing community-level crisis care.
- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs:
- 1.78 lakh centres integrating mental health into primary healthcare.
- Manodarpan (2020):
- For students, teachers, families.
- Toll-free helpline, online resources, counselor directory.
- Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK):
- Adolescent health strategy with mental health as a pillar.
- School Health & Wellness Programme:
- Promotes mental health awareness in curriculum and schools.
Case Example – Delhi Metro’s 2024 Campaign
- Awareness drive with banners, digital displays, social media messaging.
- Emphasis on “Hope and Resilience” to destigmatize help-seeking.
- Example of how public spaces can become safe, supportive environments.
Challenges in Suicide Prevention
- Stigma & Silence: Mental health still taboo in many families/communities.
- Shortage of Professionals: India has only ~9,000 psychiatrists, far below needs.
- Unequal Access: Rural areas underserved; majority of services urban-centric.
- Data Gaps: NCRB data often underreports due to misclassification (e.g., accidents).
- Means Restriction Enforcement: Pesticide regulation, railway barriers weakly implemented.
Way Forward – A Holistic Approach
- Policy & Systems:
- Full implementation of NSPS with monitoring and state-level strategies.
- Increase budgetary allocation for mental health (currently <2% of health budget).
- Service Delivery:
- Expand Tele-MANAS reach to last-mile villages.
- Train ASHAs/ANMs in early detection & referral.
- Community Engagement:
- Gatekeeper training (teachers, employers, peers).
- Peer-support groups in schools/colleges.
- Media & Technology:
- Strict adherence to WHO media reporting guidelines.
- Use AI chatbots and apps for crisis intervention.
- International Collaboration:
- Learn from global models – e.g., Japan’s community-based suicide prevention (achieved significant reduction).
Blue Waves of Progress
Basics of PMMSY
- Launch: 10th September 2020, by Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- Outlay (initial 2020–25): ₹20,050 crore (₹9,407 cr – Centre; ₹4,880 cr – States; ₹5,763 cr – Beneficiaries).
- Extension: Till 2025–26; as of July 2025, projects worth ₹21,274.16 cr approved.
- Implementing Agency: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
- Structure:
- Central Sector (CS): 100% funded by Centre.
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): Co-funded by Centre & States.
- Vision: Ecologically healthy, economically viable, socially inclusive fisheries sector ensuring prosperity, food & nutritional security.
Relevance :
- GS III (Economy, Agriculture, Environment): Fisheries sector reforms, blue economy, climate resilience.
- GS II (Governance): Women empowerment, cooperative models, welfare schemes.
Objectives
- Harness fisheries potential sustainably, inclusively, equitably.
- Enhance fish production/productivity via expansion, intensification, diversification.
- Modernize value chain, strengthen post-harvest management, improve quality.
- Double fishers’ and farmers’ incomes, generate rural employment.
- Boost contribution to Agriculture GVA & exports.
- Ensure social, physical & economic security for fishers.
- Develop robust fisheries management & regulatory framework.
Achievements (2020–2025)
- Fish Production:
- 2019–20: 141.64 lakh tonnes → 2024–25: 195 lakh tonnes.
- India: 2nd largest fish producer globally (8% of global share).
- Exports:
- 2019–20: ₹46,662.85 cr → 2023–24: ₹60,524.89 cr.
- Livelihoods: 58 lakh direct/indirect livelihoods created.
- Women Empowerment: 99,018 women covered under ₹4,061.96 cr worth proposals; 60% financial support for projects (up to ₹1.5 cr).
- Climate Resilience: 100 coastal villages declared Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.
Key Initiatives
a) Technology Adoption
- 52,058 reservoir cages, 22,057 RAS & biofloc units, 1,525 sea cages.
Biofloc Technology (BFT):
- Definition: Sustainable aquaculture system where beneficial microbes convert waste (uneaten feed, fish excreta) into protein-rich “bioflocs,” which serve as natural fish feed.
- Principle: High C:N ratio maintained by adding carbon sources (molasses, wheat bran, etc.), promoting heterotrophic bacteria that recycle nitrogenous waste.
- Benefits:
- Low/no water exchange → saves water, reduces pollution.
- Enhances feed efficiency and growth rates.
- Cost-effective, as biofloc acts as supplementary feed.
- Reduces disease risks by maintaining better water quality.
- Suitability: Works best in warm climates, high-density farming, especially for species like Tilapia, Pangasius, Singhi, Shrimp.
- Nickname: Known as “green soup” or heterotrophic ponds in aquaculture circles.
- Adoption under PMMSY: Thousands of biofloc units approved with subsidies for farmers to promote climate-smart and resource-efficient aquaculture.
b) Post-Harvest & Infrastructure
- Outlay: ₹3,281.31 cr – 58 fishing harbours & landing centres.
- Outlay: ₹1,568.11 cr – 734 ice plants/cold storages, 21 wholesale fish markets (3 Smart), 192 retail markets, 6,410 kiosks, 134 value-add units.
- 27,297 fish transport units, 5 digital trade platforms.
c) Institutional Support
- 2,195 Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) supported (₹544.85 cr) – collective bargaining & market linkages.
Sub-scheme: PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana, 2024)
- Launch: 8th Feb 2024 as CS sub-scheme under PMMSY.
- Outlay: ₹6,000 cr (2023–27).
- Focus:
- Formalisation of fisheries sector.
- Incentivisation of aquaculture insurance.
- Improved value-chain efficiency.
- Safety & quality systems.
- Progress: By April 2025, ₹11.84 cr sanctioned.
Digital Transformation
- National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) – launched 11th Sept 2024.
- Purpose: Single-window system for beneficiaries.
- Digital identities for fishers/farmers.
- Database of cooperatives, enterprises, value-chain actors.
- Access to institutional credit, insurance, traceability, incentives.
- Progress: 2.7 million+ registrations by Sept 2025.
Case Study – Grassroots Impact
- Kapil Talwar (Uttarakhand):
- Set up biofloc unit with 40% subsidy.
- Nursery produced 50,000 Pangasius.
- Created livelihoods for 7 others.
- Mentors women in sustainable aquaculture.
- Illustrates PMMSY’s transformative potential in rural livelihood generation.
Challenges
- Infrastructure Gaps: Cold-chain and storage still inadequate in remote areas.
- Climate Risks: Cyclones, salinity intrusion, ocean warming threatening coastal fisheries.
- Fragmentation: Small-scale fishers face weak bargaining power, limited access to credit.
- Overfishing: Sustainability concerns in marine capture fisheries.
- Skill Gaps: Need for large-scale training in modern aquaculture & value-addition.
Way Forward
- Strengthen Climate Resilience: Expand CRCFV model, integrate early-warning systems.
- Sustainability: Enforce catch limits, regulate destructive fishing practices.
- Technology Mainstreaming: AI, IoT for smart aquaculture; blockchain for traceability.
- Export Competitiveness: Quality certification, eco-labeling, branding of Indian seafood.
- Women & Youth Inclusion: Expand women entrepreneur model; skill youth in ornamental & high-value aquaculture.
- Integration with Blue Economy Vision 2047: Align with SDGs (food security, sustainable oceans, livelihoods).
