Newly revealed government data shows a shocking reality – more than 13.13 lakh girls and women went missing in India over the course of three years between 2019 and 2021, with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra recording the highest number of cases, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The NCRB data reveals that Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra consistently topped the list of missing girls and women among all other states in the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Between 2019 and 2021, the data reveals that 10,61,648 women above the age of 18 and 2,51,430 girls who were minors disappeared across the country. Madhya Pradesh had the highest numbers, with 1,60,180 women and 38,234 girls going missing in the said period. Maharashtra ranked second, with 1,78,400 missing women and 13,033 girls.
The situation in Odisha was also concerning, as 70,222 women and 16,649 girls went missing during the three-year span. Among the Union Territories, Delhi topped the list with 61,054 missing women and 22,919 girls during the same period. Jammu and Kashmir saw 8,617 missing women and 1,148 missing girls.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has emphasized that it is the responsibility of the respective state governments to maintain law and order, including the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women.
Addressing the issue, the government stated that it has taken numerous initiatives for women’s safety across the country. This includes enacting The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2018, which introduced even more stringent penal provisions, including the death penalty, for the rape of girls below the age of 12 years.
The government also launched the National Database on Sexual Offenders in 2018 to aid law enforcement agencies in investigating and tracking sexual offenders nationwide.
Despite these efforts, the safety of women remains a pressing concern, with incidents of sexual violence being reported in various parts of the country. BJP-led governments have faced criticism for their handling of such cases, given their slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter). Recent incidents in Manipur and allegations against a BJP MP further highlight the pressure on the Union government and state governments to address this issue effectively.
