International Men’s Day In Pune: SIFF Addresses Alarming Surge In Married Men’s Suicides: Anil Murty Raises Concerns

Accident – Death – Obituary News : International Men’s Day in Pune: SIFF Raises Concerns About Sharp Increase in Married Men’s Suicides

PUNE: In a bid to observe International Men’s Day on November 19, more than 50 men’s rights activists from different parts of Maharashtra gathered in Pune City. The activists, hailing from the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), chose to pay tribute to the lives of police personnel dedicated to serving society. As part of their commemoration, SIFF members visited all 50 Police Stations in Pune City and the Pimpri Chinchwad area in a single day, aiming to spread awareness and address pertinent issues. This year, the SIFF highlighted the theme of “Let’s eliminate the empathy gap” for International Men’s Day.

During the event, the SIFF drew attention to a deeply concerning trend – an alarming surge in suicides among married men. The statistics revealed a significant rise from 68,815 cases in 2019 to a staggering 81,063 cases in 2021, marking a distressing increase of 12,250 cases within just two years. In contrast, suicides among married women remained relatively stable at around 28,000 per year for the past 15 years. Family reasons were identified as the primary cause of suicides among married men, with almost 51% of cases attributed to issues within the family unit.

Anil Murty, Co-Founder of SIFF, expressed his concern, stating, “If men are truly privileged over women, then why is there such a vast disparity in suicide rates between the two genders? In fact, this gap is rapidly widening, and if this trend continues, we may witness married men’s suicides surpassing 100,000 per year in the near future.”

One of the key factors contributing to the deteriorating mental health of men, as highlighted by Rajesh Vakharia, SIFF Co-founder, is the increasing stress experienced during marital problems and court cases. These challenges often lead to job losses and setbacks in careers, exacerbating mental health issues. Sameer Goel, SIFF Coordinator, drew attention to the struggles faced by cricketer Mohammad Shami in his personal life, emphasizing the importance of providing mental and moral support to men during such difficult times.

The International Men’s Day celebration in Pune comprised various activities aimed at raising awareness about gender-neutral provisions in Indian laws. These activities included a bike campaign, the distribution of gender-neutral cups, and the dissemination of pamphlets to police personnel. The cups were designed to inform unmarried men about the existing laws before entering into marriage. Additionally, the Maharashtra MRA Team organized a bike campaign and an evening event coinciding with the World Cup Final Match to spread awareness and celebrate the occasion.

SIFF, the Save Indian Family Foundation, is a pan-India men’s rights NGO established in 2005. The organization advocates for reforms in various areas, including dowry laws, section 498a, false rape cases, marital rape laws, alimony, child custody laws, and judicial and police reforms.

Among the demands put forth by SIFF are equal treatment by courts for both genders, maintenance and alimony based on the duration of marriage, the appointment of visiting psychologists and psychiatrists in every court, the establishment of a special commission to address the rising suicide rates in India, the inclusion of family-related suicides in political party manifestos, and a constitutional amendment to prevent gender-based discrimination.

As the SIFF continues to raise awareness about the concerning surge in married men’s suicides, they hope to provoke meaningful discussions and drive positive changes in society..