Kerala Assembly: Opposition stages walkout after Speaker denies discussion on increasing suicides among policemen

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 1 : The opposition in the Kerala Assembly staged a walkout on Monday in protest after the Speaker denied an adjournment motion on the increasing suicide tendency among policemen due to excessive workload.
Congress MLA PC Vishnunadh moved a resolution asking to discuss the increasing suicide in the police department due to excessive workload and related stress. He also pointed out the recent suicide of Parassala native Madan Kumar.
PC Vishnunadh was trying to raise the issue of 88 police personnel who committed suicide in the last five years.
Responding to the notice for adjournment motion, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan listed the initiatives the government has launched to reduce the workload on policemen.
"It is generally seen that the reasons for suicide among the police force are mainly because of family problems, financial problems, various health problems and mental stress. However, it is a fact that problems in official life have also led to suicides. The government has taken efforts at all stages to reduce the suicidal tendencies seen in this way," he said.
"HATS (Help and Assistance to Tackle Stress) has started in 2017 to provide counselling and training programmes, including yoga for police officers who are facing mental stress. Another programme, the Domestic Conflict Resolution Centre (DCRC), is working for family counselling systems at district levels with counsellors, psychologists and women police officers being used to resolve family problems of police officers," CM Vijayan added.
He also mentioned that eight hours' duty is not something that can be implemented so quickly among the police force. However, the government is carrying out activities aimed at this.
"It has already been implemented in 52 major congested stations. Steps are being taken to expand to more stations. In modern times, there are various types of interventions to alleviate the psychological stress experienced by employees in workplaces. The lives of police officers have also been influenced in many ways. Busy lives and a lack of open communication have led to increased mental tension in people," the Kerala CM said.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan has said that CPIM is giving political patronage to criminals .
"Kerala DGP has issued a circular to give leave to police officers to spend time with families and to give counselling in 2023. The government is not taking action to solve this," Satheesan said.
After the CM's explanation, the Assembly Speaker denied permission to discuss the adjournment motion and the opposition staged a walkout.