Among the leading factors, economic problems and the fear of humiliation because of social debts to loan sharks. In the first half of 2014 at least 37 people killed themselves. They are usually members of the middle class who live above their means.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - At least 37 Indian nationals committed suicide in six of the seven United Arab Emirates in the first half of 2014. The figure was released by the Indian Consulate in Dubai. From 2007 to 2013 at least 700 suicides have been recorded in the Indian community. According to The National, English-language newspaper in Abu Dhabi, economic problems are the leading cause of these suicides.  

The suicides involve Dubai and the northern emirates Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm al-Quuwain and Ras al-Khaimah. These six, along with Abu Dhabi, make up the State of the United Arab Emirates, home to about 2 million Indian migrants.

According to some social activists, fear of social humiliation due to debts or retaliation by money lenders can push the middle-class Indian families to extreme measures. In many cases, these are people who try to live beyond their means, but who end up crushed by bank loans and credit card bills that they cannot repay.

The case of the film producer Santosh Kumar (see photo) is a prime example. The man and his wife first suffocated their 9 years old daughter Gauri, then cut both their ​​wrists. The murder-suicide is believed to have been prompted by a large debt.

To cope with this emergency, since 2011, the Indian Consulate and the Indian Community Welfare Committee (Icwc) have provided financial assistance to more than 500 cases, paying school fees, medical expenses, and buying basic goods where an enterprise had failed. (NC)

 

• INDIA
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• ARAB
• EMIRATES
• suicides
• Indian
• migrants
• debt