The growing trend of suicides in Tharparkar district in the Sindh province of Pakistan has sent the local Hindu community and different human rights organizations into a deep state of shock.
The district houses a major population of Pakistan's Hindus and has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of suicides, with nearly 700 people committing suicide over the last five years.
Most of these fatalities have been those of Hindu community members, which make up a considerable proportion of the population of the district.
Between 2024 alone, 146 individuals from Tharparkar, 76 of them women, ended their lives. This year, a minimum of 19 people, including seven women, have committed suicide already. "It is a serious matter of concern that in the last couple of weeks, six individuals have ended their lives by suicide," said Kashi Bajeer, the Chairperson of Umeed Ghar, an NGO that works for suicide prevention with a specific focus on the desert area.
Bajeer emphasized the necessity of conducting proper investigations into every case from various angles to identify the root causes behind these unfortunate incidents. He also emphasized the immediate necessity for local authorities and police to come up with a plan to tackle the situation that is spiraling out of control.
The Tharis, the indigenous people, have suffered years of neglect and live in abject poverty. Experts attribute this constant adversity, combined with an emerging mental health crisis, as a key element of the increasing suicide rate. While no clear cause has been established by the authorities, it is widely considered by many that the systematic disregard of the Hindu community of Tharparkar is a key driver of the crisis. Faiza Ilyas, an activist for rights, noted, "These problems impact both Hindus and Muslims, with more cases among Hindu scheduled castes."
The area is also beset by a shortage of basic needs like clean drinking water, jobs, and proper healthcare, all of which contribute to the mental health issues of the population. The Hindu community, in turn, remains subject to social discrimination and marginalization, which places them in a situation of poverty and desperation.
"One of the causes of suicide identified was borrowing on interest and then not being able to repay it," observed Saima Masoom Ali, a Principal Investigator and faculty at Karachi University's Department of Psychology.
Experts have also urged action immediately, such as the launching of mental health campaigns and culturally sensitive programs to better the lives of individuals in Tharparkar. There is an urgent need to transform social attitudes and give assistance to individuals who are subjected to the severe challenges of the region.
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