THE suicide attempt by a mother in Kamalapur area in the city and subsequent deaths of her son and daughter leave us marooned with the question: what psycho-social factors had worked in collusion to push a mother to the path of self-destruction in a manner that was most horrific? We know there is no straight answer to explain the complexity of the situation but social thinkers and researchers ought to find out why there is a sudden increase in the tendency to take one's own life, particularly by married women, that again after killing their own children. By no means it is a healthy sign for a nation that aspires to build a j ust and peaceful society for every citizen.

We guess time has come to take a long look at the institution called marriage and what happens in its name across the swathe of the land. Under-age marriage, demanding dowry from bride's father, acid throwing for not getting the desired dowry, setting wives on fire for refusing to accept a divorce, marrying for the second time without the permission of the first wife, not giving alimony to wife and children as per court's decision are some of the diseases that are eroding the institution in this country. Brides from poverty-stricken families in the rural areas earn no respect or sympathy from their husbands and are treated as veritable slaves by the inlaws. Verbal and physical abuse remains a daily feature in their conjugal life, which often pushes them towards the edge.

It is distressing indeed that though reports of brutality on women and children within a marriage have been coming to the media for decades together, yet no social organisation or community leaders or the social welfare department of the government has taken any effective measure to put an end to them. This is an area that has been grossly overlooked by the politicians as well.

We strongly recommend establishing a helpline for distressed women who may access it for receiving counselling by a qualified psychologist or a competent counsellor. Such help might instil reason in their heads and divert their focus from taking their own lives to something constructive. Basically it involves awareness building of what they can latch on in case of an emergency. There is also a greater role for the media to play in informing the nation about the incidence of violence on women and children and at the same time sensitising the community people about the worth of women in society as daughters, wives and mothers.