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	Nun's Suicide: Petition Challenges Compensation Indian Catholic August 22, 2008 http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=11132 KOCHI (ICNS): A petition has challenged the compensation of 200,000 rupees that the state government offered to pay to the family of the nun who committed suicide in Kerala. The Marxist coalition government in the state promised the compensation to the parents of Sister Anoopa Mary, who was found hanging on Aug. 11 from the ceiling of a room in her St Mary's Convent in Kollam. The petition filed by Peter George, a teacher in Kochi, wanted the Kerala High Court to prevent the misuse of public money offered as financial assistance to undeserved people. The suicide note of the nun had accused the convent superior of harassing her. Her father Pappachan accused the convent authorities of sexually harassing the nun and met state chief minister seeking action against the convent authorities. The chief minister promised to pay the compensation Aug. 13. George's petition also sought the court to direct the government to frame proper guidelines in providing financial assistance to the dependents of any person committing suicide or meeting with an accidental death. He also wanted such guidelines be made public. George's petition said the state cabinet decided to grant the money to the nun's family without following any principles or guidelines. Such financial aid was not offered to the families of farmers, who had committed suicide owing to crop failure and inability pay back the agricultural debts. Kerala has the highest rate of suicides in India. Records say an average 8,750 people commit suicide in the state, which would mean a person committing suicide in the state on each hour. However, this was first time government offered compensation to family of a suicide victim. The petitioner said such government assistance would give a wrong message and may prompt many to commit suicide on slightest provocations.
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