TRIBALS - 2012 - Indian Social Institute

Arunachal tribe troubled by too many suicides (6)
ITANAGAR, April 22 – The colourful Idu-Mishmi community, concentrated in the Dibang Valley and
Lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh has possibly the highest suicide rate in the country. With a
population of over 13,000 as per the 2011 census, the Idu-Mishmis have reported 226 suicides in less
than four decades. They are a tribal community distinctly identified by their unique hairstyle, typical
costumes and artistic patterns embedded on their clothes. Tarun Mene, a research scholar, who has
been just awarded a PhD by the Rajiv Gandhi University here, in his doctoral thesis “Suicide among the
Idu Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh”, revealed that women surpassed the men in committing suicides.
From 1971 to 2010, the years under review, 115 women ended their lives while the number for its
opposite sex is 103. According to a recent report, seven cases of suicide were registered during the year
2011, while a case has been registered at Anini, headquarters of Dibang Valley, in January, this year.
“The total number of suicides may be more considering the fact that there are areas in the two valleys
they inhabit have no police station where they can report suicides,” Mene pointed out. The total
male/female suicide ratio stood at 47:53 against the national ratio of 64:36 and the State ratio of 70:30.
The overall male/female ratio for youth in the 10-29 age groups stood at 41/59 and are the prime group
contributing (about 59.1 per cent to the total suicides). The analysis of annual incidents of suicide for the
decade 2001-2010 shows a mixed trend with the annual average rate of 6.2 suicides per year. As per the
record, the spring season remained most favourable. Irrespective of genders, the frequency of suicides
among the unmarried Idus is 49.6 per cent, followed by married persons at 40.8 per cent and 9.6 per cent
for the widowed. Mene said in most cases, the suicides had roots in love affairs between young males
and females. “While young people want to choose their life partners, the closely-knit community has
numerous barriers erected by generations,” he pointed out. Mene said suicide is a serious issue in the
community and social customs, norms, religious beliefs, practices, values and socio-political aspects have
greatly influenced and determined the suicidal tendencies among them. The State Women’s Commission
in a study found that the limited scope for marital relation because of the small size of the community was
a major reason for frustration in the younger generation of the community,” Gumri Ringu, chairperson of
the Commission, said. For the Idu women, when it comes to marriage, they have to face various
traditional problems, the most important being forcible marriage,” pointed out Ringu. “We will take up the
issue with the State Government for creating awareness in the community,” Ringu said. In the Idu-Mishmi
society, a woman, once widowed, can be married by her deceased husband’s younger or elder brother
without any question of consent. A man may marry his step-mother (other than his mother’s sister) after
the death of his father. And in case the step-mother refuses to remarry, she or her parent or guardian has
to pay back the bride price, Mene pointed out. As regards the solution of the social problem, Rajya Sabha
member from Arunachal Pradesh, Mukut Mithi, who represents the community, said, “Two things were
immediately required: First, a serious intervention by the government and social groups and second, there
was the need for further documentation and research.” – PTI (The Assam Tribune 24/4/12)
Menon abduction: Chhattisgarh names mediators (6)
RAIPUR/NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh government today named two former chief secretaries as its
nominees for talks with Naxals for release of abducted Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon even as
activists--Prashant Bhushan and Manish Kunjam--declined to mediate on behalf of the Maoists. Former
chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh--Nirmala Buch and S K Mishra-- have been
deputed by the state government for talks with the abductors of the 32-year-old 2006 batch IAS officer,
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told reporters in Raipur. "Buch and Mishra have been spoken
to. They have stated that they will mediate with the Maoist mediators on behalf of the state government,"
he said. "Because the talks process will be starting, there should not be any deadline for resolving the
issue," Singh said. The Chief Minister said even though the president of All India Adivasi Mahasabha
Manish Kunjam had refused to mediate, the activist has responded to an appeal by him to carry
medicines for Menon, whose condition had been described by the Naxals as "critical"."We have been told
by the family members that he (Menon) is an asthma patient and his health is deteriorating. Kunjam has
agreed to send the medicine kit to Tarimetla village as soon as possible. We are constantly in touch on
phone and we are getting information," the Chief Minister said. Earlier, Menon's wife Asha had said that
Menon was not carrying adequate medicines when he was abducted on Saturday. Meanwhile, Team
Anna member and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan declined to mediate on behalf of the Maoists
but appealed to them to unconditionally release the Sukma District Collector. He also said in Delhi that
the demands of the Maoists were "justified" and the government should address the issues facing them.
Hours after the Maoists named him as one of three mediators for negotiations with the government,
Bhushan said that he would not mediate on the issue. "No, I am appealing to the Maoists to
unconditionally release the collector. I agree to most of their demands which are justifiable but the