Bhopal: At least one student in Madhya Pradesh dies by suicide every day, a written reply by chief minister Mohan Yadav to a question in the Assembly has revealed. Data reveals the state saw at least 987 students taking the extreme step over a period of 769 days.
In another disturbing piece of statistic, the reply stated that as many as 562 farmer suicides were reported within the same time span, accounting for an average of a little less than one every day. 667 farm labourers also died by suicide in the same period.
Over the past two years, at least 42 people in Madhya Pradesh committed suicide every day, the reply revealed further, adding that the cumulative count of such incidents from December 13, 2023 to January 20, 2026 stands at an astounding 32,385, with the causes or probables reasons differing from case to case.
The information was shared in the Assembly in response to a question by Congress MLA Rajan Mandloi. Who had also sought a detailed break-up of suicide cases involving students, farmers, and agricultural labourers within the time span.
The member also sought data on how many of the farmer’s suicides were linked to loan burden and crop loss. To this, the CM’s reply stated that two farmer suicides were linked to crop loss.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), too, paints a grim picture for MP regarding suicides. According to the NCRB, the state reported 15,662 suicides in 2023, with at least 42 people taking their lives every day.
A 2023 report, titled Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, 2023, by the NCRB highlighted family problems and illness as the two leading abettors to suicide across Madhya Pradesh.
Nationally, according to the NCRB, 1,71,418 suicides were recorded in 2023, a marginal increase of 0.3% from 2022, with Maharashtra leading with 22,687 cases, followed by TN at 19,483, MP with 15,662, Karnataka at 13,330 and West Bengal with 12,819, together accounting for nearly half of all suicides reported in the country.
