In a perplexing turn of events, Kerala, celebrated for its efficiency in prosecuting criminal cases, is simultaneously battling a severe and escalating mental health crisis. The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2023 highlights an alarming surge in suicides, casting a shadow over the state’s impressive legal system.
The ‘Crime in India 2023’ report confirms Kerala’s judicial prowess, with the state recording an outstanding 95.6% chargesheeting rate for Indian Penal Code (IPC) offenses—the highest in the nation.
However, this achievement is contrasted by a substantial increase in overall IPC crimes. In 2023, Kerala registered a staggering 258,538 such cases, a significant leap from 142,643 in 2021 and 235,858 in 2022.
A particularly troubling trend is the explosion of cybercrimes, which skyrocketed from 773 cases in 2022 to an astonishing 3,295 cases in 2023. This surge, encompassing various forms of online and banking fraud, has placed immense pressure on law enforcement, leading to a comparatively low chargesheeting rate of just 48.5% for these complex digital offenses.
Furthermore, the state reported an uptick in crimes against women, with 16,025 cases in 2023, up from 15,213 in the previous year. This grim statistic includes 843 rape cases, 54 attempted rapes, and 4,816 incidents of assault with intent to outrage modesty. Additionally, 21 cases were filed under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. Similarly, offenses against children increased significantly, from 4,536 cases in 2021 to 5,903 in 2023.
Yet, even as authorities strive to tackle crime, a deeper, more insidious problem persists: Kerala’s intensifying mental health crisis. The ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2023’ report reveals a distressing 8% rise in suicides, with the total number soaring from 10,162 in 2022 to 10,972 in 2023.
This upward trajectory is deeply concerning, placing Kerala’s suicide rate at 30.6 per lakh population—the third highest in the nation, trailing only the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (49.6) and Sikkim (40.2).
While many factors contribute to this tragic reality, a substantial portion of suicides in Kerala stems from employment-related distress. The state recorded 1,178 suicides among private sector employees, second only to Maharashtra. Most alarmingly, Kerala leads the country in suicides by unemployed individuals, with 2,191 such heartbreaking cases documented.