THIS is apropos of Shanaz Leghari’s letter ‘Suicides in Thar’ (Feb 15). According to the Association of Women for Action and Research’s Social Watch Report 2012 of Tharparkar district, 35 persons committed suicide.

It is highly lamentable that the people of Thar, who once led a simple, peaceful and satisfied life, have now turned to death as an easy escape from their highly tortuous and tormenting life. According to a survey, 17 women and 18 men committed suicide in 2012. The reasons for the high rate of suicide range from domestic violence, shaky family relationship, joblessness, etc.

When people who toil from dawn to dusk are not able to have two square meals a day or cannot afford a simple treatment for their ailment, they are driven by sheer desperation to commit suicide.

It is time social scientists, the government and civil society paid attention to this dangerous trend leading Tharis to commit suicide.

GULSHER PANWHER Johi