Suicides in K’taka higher among men than women, family issues, debt, illness major factors: NCRB
Bengaluru: In a concerning development, 29 men died by suicide every day in Karnataka in 2023, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Family disputes, illness, mental health issues, substance abuse, and debts were identified as the leading causes.
The report, cited by Deccan Herald, reveals that the number of male suicides has been steadily increasing over the past five years. Between 2018 and 2023, Karnataka recorded a total of 63,539 suicides, of which 48,125 were men and 15,400 were women.
The NCRB data shows that nearly 13,330 suicides occurred in the state in 2023 alone, with men accounting for 10,232 and women for 3,091. Suicides among rural men are notably higher than in urban areas, the data indicates.
Neeraj Shanthakumar, a men’s rights activist, emphasised the lack of emotional support available to men, noting that many face the stigma of being unable to express vulnerability. "The actual issue is that a majority of men do not get a shoulder to cry on. There are no platforms or dedicated helplines for counseling," DH quoted him as saying.
Shanthakumar pointed out that though the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, has been introduced by the government, it has not been implemented yet.
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Deepfakes significant threat to democracy: President Murmu
New Delhi (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said deepfake and misinformation were becoming significant threats to democracy and social harmony, and urged lawmakers to deliberate on this grave issue.
In her address to both Houses of Parliament, she said in view of the dangers arising due to misuse of AI, it is imperative to be serious on this issue.
"Deepfake, misinformation, and fake content are becoming significant threats to democracy, social harmony, and public trust. It is essential that all of you deliberate on this grave issue," the President said.
She called for cultivating innovation at the classroom level, and made a strong pitch for early exposure to science, technology and creative problem-solving in schools.
"Today, technology is evolving rapidly. As a result of this, the nature of jobs is also changing at a fast pace. Therefore, the National Education Policy has been designed to meet the needs of both, the present and the future," the President said.
She said right at the school level, children are being nurtured to have a mindset for technology and innovation.
"The Atal Innovation Mission is playing an effective role in this. So far, over one crore students across the country have benefitted from Atal Tinkering Labs," the President said, adding that the culture of research and development is also being promoted through Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
Murmu said one thousand ITIs were being made future-ready for upgrading the ITI network in the country.
"On this account, Rs 60,000 crore is being spent under the PM Setu Scheme. My government is preparing an industry-ready workforce for modern technology. So far, 60 thousand youth have been trained for the semiconductor industry. Ten lakh youth are being trained in the field of Artificial Intelligence," the President said.
