Controversy over Madhya Pradesh suicides

By Mahesh Pandey in Bhopal

The authorities in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh have rejected charges that they might have contributed to the suicides of former employees.

Thousands of casual workers have been sacked by the government in the last three months.

Several suicides, allegedly by sacked casual employees, have been reported from across the state.

A general strike was called in Vidisha last month after a man and his wife poisoned their children after he lost his job.

Similar cases have been reported from other cities including Bhopal.

The government is thought to have sacked just under 30,000 casual employees, many of whom worked as drivers, electricians and plumbers.

Now, opposition parties in the state are pointing to the reported suicides and demanding that the employees be given their jobs back.

But the state government denies that these deaths have anything to do with its attempt to trim its budget.

A government spokesman said that only three former employees had committed suicide - and not a whole series - and that too for what he called personal reasons.

But observers say the issue has put the government in a tight spot as it has sacked casual employees - but done nothing to cut back on the top-heavy bureaucracy in the state.