1.35 lakh suicides in 2011, West Bengal on top

More than 1.35 lakh people committed suicide in the country in 2011 of which the highest number were reported in West Bengal followed by Tamil Nadu.

Family problems and illness, accounting for 24.3 per cent and 19.6 per cent respectively, were the major causes of suicides while poverty was to be blamed in 1.7 per cent of the cases, according to government data.

Love affairs (3.4 per cent), drug abuse/addiction (2.7 per cent), dowry dispute (2.4 per cent) and bankruptcy (2.2 per cent) were among the other causes.

Delhi has reported the highest number of suicides (1,716) among UTs, followed by Puducherry (557). Seven UTs together accounted for 1.9 per cent of total suicides in the country.

The number of suicides in the country over the decade (2001-2011) has recorded an increase of 25 per cent -- from 1,08,506 in 2001 to 1,35,585 in 2011.

West Bengal reported the highest number of suicides (16,492) accounting for 12.2 per cent of the total suicides last year followed by Tamil Nadu (15,963), Maharashtra (15,947), Andhra Pradesh (15,077) and Karnataka (12,622).

They accounted for 11.8 per cent, 11.8 per cent, 11.1 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively of the total suicides in the country.

These five states together accounted for 56.2 per cent of the total suicides reported in India, the NCRB said.

The remaining 43.8 per cent suicides were reported in the rest of 23 states and seven Union Territories, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Uttar Pradesh, country's most populous state (16.5 per cent share of the population) has reported comparatively lower percentage of suicidal deaths, accounting for only 3.6 per cent of such deaths.

Fifty-three mega cities accounted for 13.5 per cent of the total suicides in the country.

Suicides due to drug abuse, love affairs, family problem, dowry dispute, suspected/illicit relation and cancellation/ non-settlement of marriage have shown an increasing trend during last three years.

The number of suicides due to ideological causes/hero worshipping and poverty declined by 59.3 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively as compared to previous year, whereas number of suicides due to divorce, illegitimate pregnancy and professional problem have increased by 54.5 per cent, 20.3 per cent and 20.1 per cent respectively.

A total of 9.1 per cent suicides in Uttar Pradesh and 7.6 per cent suicides in Madhya Pradesh were due to dowry dispute. Drug abuse accounted for 17.5 per cent suicides in Dadra and Nager Haveli. 6.3 per cent suicides in Assam were due to failure in examination.

Kerala, Puducherry, Maharashtra and Tripura have reported of 44.6 per cent, 40.2 per cent, 39.9 per cent and 36.6 per cent respectively of suicides due to family problem.

14.7 per cent suicides in Assam were due to love affairs, 1.1 per cent suicides in Jammu and Kashmir were due to not having children, 8.3 per cent suicides in Andhra Pradesh and 6.8 per cent suicides in Punjab were on account of poverty. 7.5 per cent suicides in Punjab and 7.7 per cent suicides in Assam were on account of unemployment and property disputes respectively.