Content

1. World Suicide Prevention Day
2. Blue Waves of Progress

World Suicide Prevention Day

Context

• Observed on: 10th September every year since 2003.
• Initiating body: International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), co-sponsored by WHO.
• Purpose: Raise awareness, foster compassion, reduce stigma, and promote collective action – underlining that suicide is preventable.
• Global Data (WHO, 2021):
  • 727,000+ deaths annually.
  • For every suicide death, ~20 attempts.
  • Suicide = 3rd leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
• Triennial Theme (2024–2026): “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” – focus on countering myths, stigma, and silence with openness and empathy.

Relevance :

• GS II (Health, Social Justice): National Suicide Prevention Strategy, Tele-MANAS, RKSK.
• GS III (Science & Tech): Use of telemedicine, digital platforms in mental health.
• GS IV (Ethics & Society): Compassion, empathy, duty towards vulnerable groups.

Suicide in India – Magnitude and Trends

• Share of Global Burden:
  • ~1/3rd of global female suicides.
  • ~1/4th of global male suicides.
• Annual deaths: ~100,000+ lives lost in India.
• NCRB Data (2017–2022):
  • Suicide rate rose from 9.9 per lakh (2017) → 12.4 per lakh (2022).
• Geographic Variations (2022):
  • Bihar: lowest (0.6/100,000).
  • Sikkim: highest (43.1/100,000).
  • Cities: Vijayawada (42.6/100,000), Kollam (42.5/100,000) top rates.
• Demographics: Youth, women, farmers, students, daily wage earners among most vulnerable groups.

Drivers and Risk Factors

• Individual: Mental illness (depression, bipolar, substance abuse), chronic illness, lack of coping skills.
• Socio-economic: Poverty, unemployment, debt (esp. among farmers), academic stress, urban isolation.
• Socio-cultural: Stigma around mental health, gender-based violence, dowry harassment, caste discrimination.
• Structural: Poor access to mental health services, shortage of professionals (India has ~1 psychiatrist per 100,000 vs WHO norm of 3).

National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS), 2022

• Vision: Reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030 (aligned with WHO’s SDG target).
• Approach: Multi-sectoral (health, education, social justice, women & child, labour, media).
• Key Components:
  • Universal screening in primary care and schools.
  • Restriction of access to means (pesticides, railway tracks).
  • Responsible media reporting guidelines.
  • Strengthening mental health services at all levels.
  • Special focus on vulnerable groups (youth, LGBTQ+, farmers).

National Programmes Supporting Prevention

• Tele-MANAS (2022):
  • Tele-Mental Health helpline across states/UTs.
  • 53 operational cells, >1 million calls handled.
• District Mental Health Programme (DMHP):
  • Covers 767 districts, providing community-level crisis care.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs:
  • 1.78 lakh centres integrating mental health into primary healthcare.
• Manodarpan (2020):
  • For students, teachers, families.
  • Toll-free helpline, online resources, counselor directory.
• Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK):
  • Adolescent health strategy with mental health as a pillar.
• School Health & Wellness Programme:
  • Promotes mental health awareness in curriculum and schools.

Case Example – Delhi Metro’s 2024 Campaign

• Awareness drive with banners, digital displays, social media messaging.
• Emphasis on “Hope and Resilience” to destigmatize help-seeking.
• Example of how public spaces can become safe, supportive environments.

Challenges in Suicide Prevention

• Stigma & Silence: Mental health still taboo in many families/communities.
• Shortage of Professionals: India has only ~9,000 psychiatrists, far below needs.
• Unequal Access: Rural areas underserved; majority of services urban-centric.
• Data Gaps: NCRB data often underreports due to misclassification (e.g., accidents).
• Means Restriction Enforcement: Pesticide regulation, railway barriers weakly implemented.

Way Forward – A Holistic Approach

• Policy & Systems:
  • Full implementation of NSPS with monitoring and state-level strategies.
  • Increase budgetary allocation for mental health (currently <2% of health budget).
• Service Delivery:
  • Expand Tele-MANAS reach to last-mile villages.
  • Train ASHAs/ANMs in early detection & referral.
• Community Engagement:
  • Gatekeeper training (teachers, employers, peers).
  • Peer-support groups in schools/colleges.
• Media & Technology:
  • Strict adherence to WHO media reporting guidelines.
  • Use AI chatbots and apps for crisis intervention.
• International Collaboration:
  • Learn from global models – e.g., Japan’s community-based suicide prevention (achieved significant reduction).

Blue Waves of Progress

Basics of PMMSY

• Launch: 10th September 2020, by Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
• Outlay (initial 2020–25): ₹20,050 crore (₹9,407 cr – Centre; ₹4,880 cr – States; ₹5,763 cr – Beneficiaries).
• Extension: Till 2025–26; as of July 2025, projects worth ₹21,274.16 cr approved.
• Implementing Agency: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
• Structure:
  • Central Sector (CS): 100% funded by Centre.
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): Co-funded by Centre & States.
• Vision: Ecologically healthy, economically viable, socially inclusive fisheries sector ensuring prosperity, food & nutritional security.

Relevance :

• GS III (Economy, Agriculture, Environment): Fisheries sector reforms, blue economy, climate resilience.
• GS II (Governance): Women empowerment, cooperative models, welfare schemes.

Objectives

• Harness fisheries potential sustainably, inclusively, equitably.
• Enhance fish production/productivity via expansion, intensification, diversification.
• Modernize value chain, strengthen post-harvest management, improve quality.
• Double fishers’ and farmers’ incomes, generate rural employment.
• Boost contribution to Agriculture GVA & exports.
• Ensure social, physical & economic security for fishers.
• Develop robust fisheries management & regulatory framework.

Achievements (2020–2025)

• Fish Production:
  • 2019–20: 141.64 lakh tonnes → 2024–25: 195 lakh tonnes.
  • India: 2nd largest fish producer globally (8% of global share).
• Exports:
  • 2019–20: ₹46,662.85 cr → 2023–24: ₹60,524.89 cr.
• Livelihoods: 58 lakh direct/indirect livelihoods created.
• Women Empowerment: 99,018 women covered under ₹4,061.96 cr worth proposals; 60% financial support for projects (up to ₹1.5 cr).
• Climate Resilience: 100 coastal villages declared Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages.

Key Initiatives

a) Technology Adoption

• 52,058 reservoir cages, 22,057 RAS & biofloc units, 1,525 sea cages.

Biofloc Technology (BFT):

• Definition: Sustainable aquaculture system where beneficial microbes convert waste (uneaten feed, fish excreta) into protein-rich “bioflocs,” which serve as natural fish feed.
• Principle: High C:N ratio maintained by adding carbon sources (molasses, wheat bran, etc.), promoting heterotrophic bacteria that recycle nitrogenous waste.
• Benefits:
  • Low/no water exchange → saves water, reduces pollution.
  • Enhances feed efficiency and growth rates.
  • Cost-effective, as biofloc acts as supplementary feed.
  • Reduces disease risks by maintaining better water quality.
• Suitability: Works best in warm climates, high-density farming, especially for species like Tilapia, Pangasius, Singhi, Shrimp.
• Nickname: Known as “green soup” or heterotrophic ponds in aquaculture circles.
• Adoption under PMMSY: Thousands of biofloc units approved with subsidies for farmers to promote climate-smart and resource-efficient aquaculture.

b) Post-Harvest & Infrastructure

• Outlay: ₹3,281.31 cr – 58 fishing harbours & landing centres.
• Outlay: ₹1,568.11 cr – 734 ice plants/cold storages, 21 wholesale fish markets (3 Smart), 192 retail markets, 6,410 kiosks, 134 value-add units.
• 27,297 fish transport units, 5 digital trade platforms.

c) Institutional Support

• 2,195 Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) supported (₹544.85 cr) – collective bargaining & market linkages.

Sub-scheme: PM-MKSSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah Yojana, 2024)

• Launch: 8th Feb 2024 as CS sub-scheme under PMMSY.
• Outlay: ₹6,000 cr (2023–27).
• Focus:
  • Formalisation of fisheries sector.
  • Incentivisation of aquaculture insurance.
  • Improved value-chain efficiency.
  • Safety & quality systems.
• Progress: By April 2025, ₹11.84 cr sanctioned.

Digital Transformation

• National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) – launched 11th Sept 2024.
• Purpose: Single-window system for beneficiaries.
  • Digital identities for fishers/farmers.
  • Database of cooperatives, enterprises, value-chain actors.
  • Access to institutional credit, insurance, traceability, incentives.
• Progress: 2.7 million+ registrations by Sept 2025.

Case Study – Grassroots Impact

• Kapil Talwar (Uttarakhand):
  • Set up biofloc unit with 40% subsidy.
  • Nursery produced 50,000 Pangasius.
  • Created livelihoods for 7 others.
  • Mentors women in sustainable aquaculture.
• Illustrates PMMSY’s transformative potential in rural livelihood generation.

Challenges

• Infrastructure Gaps: Cold-chain and storage still inadequate in remote areas.
• Climate Risks: Cyclones, salinity intrusion, ocean warming threatening coastal fisheries.
• Fragmentation: Small-scale fishers face weak bargaining power, limited access to credit.
• Overfishing: Sustainability concerns in marine capture fisheries.
• Skill Gaps: Need for large-scale training in modern aquaculture & value-addition.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Climate Resilience: Expand CRCFV model, integrate early-warning systems.
• Sustainability: Enforce catch limits, regulate destructive fishing practices.
• Technology Mainstreaming: AI, IoT for smart aquaculture; blockchain for traceability.
• Export Competitiveness: Quality certification, eco-labeling, branding of Indian seafood.
• Women & Youth Inclusion: Expand women entrepreneur model; skill youth in ornamental & high-value aquaculture.
• Integration with Blue Economy Vision 2047: Align with SDGs (food security, sustainable oceans, livelihoods).