Why daily wagers are the largest group among those who die by suicide

The latest report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed that the share of daily wagers is the largest among those who die by suicide in the country. As per the report, out of 1,64,033 suicide cases reported in 2021, 42,004 suicides were that of daily wagers. In other words, one in four of the recorded 1,64,033 suicide cases during 2021 was a daily wage earner.

Since 2014, there has been a steady rise in suicide cases of daily wagers.In 2020, daily wage earners also accounted for the highest share, with 37,666 (24.6 per cent) of the 1,53,052 reported suicides.

According to experts, the major reasons affecting daily wagers in the last two years is the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors induced by it.

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Here’s a look at what could be the top social factors that may have been the driving factor behind the rising death by suicide of daily wagers:

*Covid-19: In the past two years, the pandemic had halted regular life, leading to a sharp decline in demand of labour work. Multiple reports have suggested how labourers were not paid their dues by their contractors leading them to forced debt cycle. While their income went zero, expenses kept mounting.

*Lack of contracts: One of the other major reasons of daily wagers easily losing work is the lack of contracts in such cases. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (2017-18), casual workers without contract form a quarter of India’s total work force. These casual workers don’t have a job security and are hence prone to job loss.

*Forced Transition: As per a report by Azim Premji University, there has been transition of formal salaried workers moving to informal workers as self-employed (30%), casual wage (10%) or informal salaries (9%) between late 2019 and late 2020.

*Decline in construction work: The pandemic period also saw a contraction in construction sector. Daily wagers form a backbone of the construction sector. The sector which at the end of 2010 employed more than 44 million has witnessed a slowdown.

*Dip in daily wages: A report by the Azim Premji University, The State of Working India 2021: One Year of Covid-19, revealed that casual and daily wage workers saw a dip of 13 per cent in their salary from a year ago.

Impact of Covid-19 on daily wagers

Ravindra Himte, National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, an affiliate of the RSS, blamed the rise in suicide rate on Covid-19.

Speaking to India Today, he said, “The country has more than 1.12 crore mazdoors (labourers), hence it’s obvious that their numbers will be higher. Additionally, during Covid-19 if instead of counting dead bodies, organisations would have come to assist the daily wagers, we could have contained situation.”

He also suggested that the data for 2022 would show a dip in suicide rate amongst daily wagers given Covid-19 has eased and the maximum effect was faced in 2021 during the second wave.

TMC HITS OUT GOVT OVER HIGH SUICIDE CASES

Meanwhile, the opposition parties took a dig at the government over the NCRB report.

Taking to Twitter, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said, “NCRB data shows daily wage earners account for 25.6% of all suicide victims in 2021. Largest group. Is this what “Atma Nirbhar” means in BJP’s India?”.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also took to the social media site saying, “In BJP's New India, PM's friends become richest in the world adding billions to their wealth, while daily wagers are killing themselves of dearth of income in a failing economy. The "Fakir Aadmi" has ensured that the entire country remains FAKIR apart from his suit boot friends!”

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