Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa University researcher Prof Dr Nandkumar Kamat has urged the government to order a survey of all bridges used for suicides by analysing the trend and has asked that religious leaders be roped in for a campaign to make Goa ‘suicide- free’.
In a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Kamat pointed out that the incident at Curchorem was due to people gathered on the old pedestrian bridge to watch the rescue operation of a person who had committed suicide.
“Why is it so easy for people to use bridges to commit suicides? Why a welfare state can’t think of technology available to put anti-suicide barricades?” he asked bringing to the notice that there is need for installation of suicide nets, which not only stop people from jumping at a particular site, but also decrease the overall suicide rate.
Kamat urged the government to survey all bridges used for suicides, analyse the data to see if there is any trend, frequency, pattern and choice of spot. “There is a need to constitute a team to plan and design suicide prevention soft barriers and suicide deterrent signboards,” he said.
“There is a need to make an appeal to community and families, religious leaders, social workers to be part of campaign to make Goa suicide-free state,” Kamat added.
He urged the government to launch a 365 days, 24 hours, toll free suicide helpline and give it wide publicity, and also opt for counseling centres.
Stating that the tendency of committing suicide amongst children is alarming, Kamat has asked the government to make psychiatric health card compulsory for students from Class V to XIIth.
