Date:31/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/31/stories/2007123155470300.htm

New Delhi

No decline in stress-related fatalities

NEW DELHI: Stress-related fatalities in the armed forces are showing no signs of abating, according to figures given by the top Armed Forces Medical officers here.

While 120 cases of deaths due to suicides and fratricides were reported in 2006, this year the figure till date is around 110.

This is in spite of crash programmes like counselling, yoga classes, more liberalised leave system and enhanced interaction between officers and jawans introduced by the Government as stress busters.

But, the Government is keeping up its efforts to tackle the incidence. Army is in the process of inducting 2000 personnel in next five years to work as counsellors.

“The first batch of 46 counsellors have started work,” Director General Army Medical Services Lt Gen Saibal Mukherjee said. — PTI