Need to have National Commission for Men, says Rajya Sabha MP Mittal

Chandigarh, Aug 30 (IANS) A research report documenting cases of husband and intimate partner murders and suicides among men in India was unveiled at the Ekam Nyaay Dialogue here, with Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Ashok Kumar Mittal calling for a serious national discussion on establishing a national commission for men as an institutional mechanism for research, prevention, legal awareness and support.

The report, “Husband murder by wife and suicide by men — A research report and analysis on incidents reported in the media in the Years 2024 and 2025”, has documented 244 husband and intimate partner murder cases in 2024 and 419 in 2025, while recording 277 husband or intimate partner suicide cases in 2024 and 426 in 2025.

The report is based on incidents identified through media reports and highlights the need for better data and a deeper understanding of issues affecting men.

Speaking at the event, Mittal said the discussion was not about creating a contest between men and women but about ensuring that genuine concerns of every citizen are heard.

“Can there be true justice if some voices are still unheard? This is not a question of taking away anyone’s rights, and it is certainly not a question of standing against women. India has made important progress in protecting women’s safety, dignity and rights, and that progress must continue. But in this journey towards justice, genuine concerns relating to men cannot be ignored. We need a serious, sensitive and institutional conversation around these issues.”

Mittal said the numbers should not merely become statistics but should lead to better questions about prevention, mental health and access to support.

“Behind every number is a person, a family and a story. These numbers remind us that men’s safety, mental health and well-being also need our attention. We need to ask whether our sons and young men can speak about failure, relationship problems, financial pressure or emotional stress, and whether they can access counselling without fear or judgement. Sometimes a person does not need a courtroom first; he may simply need someone to listen.”

He added that a National Commission for Men should not be created merely as another grievance forum but as a national platform that can listen, understand, support, research, recommend and reform.

Such an institution, he said, could bring together researchers, legal experts, counsellors, social workers and policymakers to systematically study issues affecting men.

“A National Commission for Men should never become a platform for men versus women. It should not be against any existing women’s institution, and it should not weaken the rights of women. Its purpose should be to understand the problem properly and find the right solutions. It can help with genuine grievances and legal issues, improve legal awareness, support counselling and mental health, study family disputes and parental alienation, examine domestic abuse and violence against men, and understand the reasons behind suicides among men.”

He also stressed that the proposed commission should have a strong focus on prevention. This could include early identification of distress, counselling, family support, legal guidance, professional referrals and mediation in appropriate cases.

The objective, he noted, should be to address problems before they escalate into irreversible tragedies.

Mittal said the proposed commission must also focus on children and families.

He advocated examining stronger principles of shared parenting and meaningful access to both parents where there are no safety concerns, describing this not merely as a father’s-rights issue but as a child-rights issue.

–IANS

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