Indian Express, Oct 1, 2025

Key Arguments

1. Rising Suicides among Daily-Wage Earners
   ○ Daily-wage earners accounted for over one-fourth of total suicides in 2023.
   ○ Their share rose to 27.5% in 2023 (from 26.4% in 2022), marking a 45% increase over five years.
   ○ Urban daily-wage earners, especially in construction and informal jobs, face extreme vulnerability due to lack of job security and rising costs of living.

2. Contrast with Farming Sector
   ○ Suicides in the farming sector declined to 6.3% of total suicides in 2023.
   ○ However, agricultural labourers’ suicides increased slightly, even as cultivators’ suicides reduced.

3. Underlying Causes
   ○ Job insecurity, debt burdens, low wages, weak social security, and lack of institutional support.
   ○ Growing informalisation of labour markets with contract/temporary work.
   ○ Weak demand in construction and manufacturing worsening urban distress.

4. Systemic Issues Highlighted
   ○ Absence of comprehensive labour welfare mechanisms.
   ○ Rural–urban imbalance in employment opportunities.
   ○ Shrinking safety nets for vulnerable working-class sections.

Author’s Stance

● Concerned and empathetic stance – suicides among daily-wage earners seen as a serious socio-economic crisis.
● Stresses the need for systemic reforms, not just attributing causes to individuals.

Possible Biases

● Emphasises economic distress while underplaying other factors like mental health, substance abuse, or family pressures.
● Generalises vulnerability across daily-wage earners, without regional or gender-specific distinctions.

Pros

● Uses data-backed NCRB insights, enhancing credibility.
● Highlights an under-reported section – urban daily-wage earners.
● Shows link between economic insecurity and mental health crises.

Cons

● Limited exploration of policy implementation failures (MGNREGA, labour codes, insurance).
● Less focus on solutions like community resilience, affordable healthcare, or mental health programs.

Policy Implications

1. GS Paper I (Society):
○ Inequality, marginalisation, and rural–urban distress as social issues.

2. GS Paper II (Governance & Social Justice):
○ Labour reforms, welfare mechanisms, and social safety nets for informal workers.

3. GS Paper III (Economy):
○ Employment generation, job security, and structural vulnerabilities in labour markets.

4. GS Paper IV (Ethics):
○ Ethical responsibility of state and society towards the most vulnerable.
○ Ensuring dignity of labour and preventing exploitation.

Real-World Impact

● Reflects crisis in India’s informal economy, where millions lack stability, benefits, and labour dignity.
● Social consequences: family breakdown, intergenerational poverty, urban slum distress.
● Economic costs: reduced productivity, higher healthcare burdens, and deepening inequality.

Balanced Summary and Future Perspectives

The rise in suicides among daily-wage earners underscores the structural fragility of India’s informal labour economy. Unlike farm suicides that get policy attention, the distress of urban/semi-urban wage earners risks being overlooked. This highlights the need for comprehensive livelihood reforms.

Future Outlook:
● Expand social security coverage – health insurance, pensions, accident coverage.
● Strengthen labour codes and ensure fair wages with timely payments.
● Diversify employment opportunities via urban skill development and MSME growth.
● Integrate mental health support systems in primary health centres.
● Shift policy discourse from narrow agricultural distress to a broader livelihood crisis framework covering informal urban workers.