New Delhi: In a startling revelation, data from the Union Home Ministry shows that over 13.13 lakh women and girls went missing across India between 2019 and 2021. This alarming figure sheds light on the growing challenges of women’s safety, human trafficking, and systemic negligence in the country.

Of the total cases reported, 10,61,648 were women above the age of 18, and 2,51,430 were girls under 18 years of age. The data obtained from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates that Madhya Pradesh has the highest incidence of missing females, followed in order by West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

State-Wise Statistics: A Detailed Look

Madhya Pradesh: Leading the Crisis

Madhya Pradesh tops the chart with 1,60,180 missing women and 38,234 missing girls reported during the three years. This reflects a growing concern in the state, where trafficking, domestic violence, and societal pressures contribute significantly to the issue.

West Bengal: A Close Second

West Bengal reported 1,56,905 missing women and 36,606 missing girls in the same period. The state, known for its socio-economic challenges, is a hotspot for trafficking, especially in its rural and border regions.

Maharashtra: Urban Areas Not Immune

Despite being one of India’s wealthiest states, Maharashtra recorded 1,78,400 missing women and 13,033 missing girls. The high number from urban centers like Mumbai and Pune suggests that city life is not immune to such incidents.

Odisha and Chhattisgarh: Vulnerability in Tribal Regions

Odisha saw 70,222 women and 16,649 girls go missing, while Chhattisgarh accounted for 49,116 women and 10,817 girls. Both states face challenges such as poverty, migration, and trafficking in their tribal belts, contributing to these figures.

Union Territories: Delhi Leads with Disturbing Numbers

The national capital, Delhi, reported 1,054 missing women and 22,919 missing girls. These figures are especially concerning, given the city's infrastructure and awareness campaigns. In Jammu and Kashmir, 8,617 women and 1,148 girls went missing during the same period.

Key Concerns Behind the Numbers

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Experts highlight trafficking as one of the primary reasons behind such high numbers. Girls and women, especially from rural areas, are lured with promises of jobs or marriage, only to be exploited in urban centers or across borders.

Domestic Violence and Forced Migration

Many women flee abusive households, but without proper support systems, they often disappear into obscurity. Migration for work without proper documentation also leaves women and girls vulnerable to exploitation.

Lack of Policing and Infrastructure

Despite advancements in policing, the lack of a robust mechanism to track and recover missing persons remains a glaring gap. Rural areas, in particular, suffer from inadequate surveillance and delayed reporting.

Government’s Measures to Tackle the Crisis

The Union Government has introduced several initiatives to ensure the safety and well-being of women and girls across the country:

Stronger Legal Framework:

• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, introduced stricter penalties for crimes against women, including provisions to fast-track investigations and trials.
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, mandates a death penalty for rapists of girls below 12 years and sets a strict timeline for resolving such cases.

Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): The 112 helpline number provides a nationwide emergency response system for distress calls, enabling quicker intervention.

Cybercrime Reporting Portal: Launched in 2018, this platform allows individuals to report online abuse, harassment, and explicit content, aiding in the fight against cybercrimes targeting women.

National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO): This initiative helps law enforcement agencies track and investigate repeat offenders involved in sexual crimes.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: Though primarily aimed at improving the gender ratio and promoting girl-child education, the scheme also emphasizes safety and empowerment for women.

Voices from the Ground

Families Struggling for Answers

Each missing person represents a family left behind in despair. Parents and siblings recount endless waits and sleepless nights, hoping for a breakthrough in investigations. “My daughter went missing two years ago from a bus stand, and we haven’t heard from her since,” says a father from Madhya Pradesh.

Activists Demand Action

Women’s rights activists have criticized the government’s response as inadequate, calling for more localized support systems, improved policing, and rehabilitation measures for recovered individuals.

The Road Ahead: What Needs to Be Done

• Community Awareness Programs: Educating rural and urban populations about the risks of trafficking and the importance of timely reporting.
• Improved Policing: Setting up dedicated missing persons units with advanced tracking systems in every district.
• Rehabilitation Centers: Providing mental health support and vocational training to recovered individuals.
• Collaboration with NGOs: Partnering with grassroots organizations to identify vulnerable populations and create early-warning systems.