Over 50k of 2.6 lakh missing Madhya Pradesh women & girls still untraceable, says govt

BHOPAL: More than 50,000 women and girls, of 2,69,500 who went missing across Madhya Pradesh over the last six years, continue to remain untraceable, the state government revealed in the Assembly, adding that the cases are listed as ‘pending' as no information has been received on their whereabouts.

In a written reply to a question posed by Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria in the House on Feb 18, the government quoted figures stating that over 2.06 lakh women and 63,500 girls went missing across the state between 2020 and 2026. However, it informed the Assembly that 1.58 lakh missing women and 61,000 girls have been rescued, adding that the remaining missing cases should not be considered closed till there is no information on whereabouts or fates.

The Congress MLA sought data on the number of reports of missing women and girls registered across all police station areas of the state between 2020 and 2026. He also sought to know how many of those missing were traced and rescued and those still untraceable. He also demanded that the state revert with details of the action plan by the department concerned with regard to women and girls still missing and the budget to ensure women's safety.

The state, in its written reply, stated that cases involving close to 48,000 missing women and 2,200 girls were still tagged as ‘pending', for lack of any information yet on their whereabouts.

Among the four main cities — Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur — the state's industrial capital reported 4,449 women and 135 girls as missing in the last six years, topping the charts, while Bhopal (urban) reported 1,685 and 56 missing women and girls in the same period of time. Further, the written reply detailed that Gwalior accounted for 1,188 missing women and 14 girls over the past six years, with Jabalpur reporting 2,296 women and 86 girls missing within the same time span.

The government said 52 women's police stations have been established in the state to ensure prompt hearing and disposal of all complaints and cases related to women. In addition, instructions are issued from time to time to other police stations as well for the prevention of crimes against women and for effective investigation, the government stated in its reply.

To prevent crimes committed against women, a total of 987 women's helpdesks are operational in the state, the reply read further, adding that a year-long campaign is underway to trace missing minor girls and boys.

A special campaign, ‘Operation Helping Hand', was also underway to enable prompt execution of warrants issued by courts for the maintenance and support of women, the state informed the House, adding that both campaigns were being continuously reviewed at the headquarters level by the women safety branch of the state police.

To create awareness about crimes against women, the ‘Sraja' programme for adolescent girls, ‘Abhimanyu' for boys, and ‘Samman' campaign for all women were being conducted, under an integrated campaign since January, this year, the reply read, adding that for fiscal 2025–26, a budget allocation of Rs 41,88,54,200 was made for women's safety.