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Odisha’s Missing Children Crisis: 7,272 Still Untraced

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Despite multiple anti-trafficking initiatives and dedicated police units in the State, the growing number of missing children has emerged as a serious human rights concern in Odisha

Despite multiple anti-trafficking initiatives and dedicated police units in the State, the growing number of missing children has emerged as a serious human rights concern in Odisha

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Kasturi Swain
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Bhubaneswar: Despite multiple anti-trafficking initiatives and dedicated police units in the State, the growing number of missing children has emerged as a serious human rights concern in Odisha. The State continues to witness a steady rise in cases of children listed as missing with an overwhelming majority being minor girls. 
As per official data, 25,438 children have gone missing in the last seven years, of whom 7,272 are still unaccounted for. What is disturbing is that minor girls make up nearly 90 per cent of those whose whereabouts are still unknown. In 2023 alone, 5,928 children were reported missing. Taking previous years into account, 7,272 children remain untraced, underscoring a critical challenge for State authorities.

Of those still missing, 6,497 are minor girls, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the total. Investigations indicate that these girls are being trafficked at different times, primarily to neighbouring states such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, and also to Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

To curb human trafficking, Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (IAHTUs) have been set up in all 36 police districts of the state. In parallel, the Crime Branch launched special drives such as Operation Smile, Operation Muskan and the Pari scheme between 2015 and 2019. Despite these initiatives, the number of missing minor girls has not come under control.

Between 2017 and 2023, the highest number of missing children cases were reported from Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam and Jajpur districts.

The numbers tell a troubling story

Year-wise data reveal a disturbing trend:

  • 2022: 4,757 children missing (507 boys, 4,250 girls)

  • 2021: 4,133 children missing (477 boys, 3,656 girls)

  • 2020: 2,899 children missing (343 boys, 2,556 girls)

  • 2019: 3,151 children missing (560 boys, 2,591 girls)

  • 2018: 2,326 children missing (451 boys, 1,875 girls)

  • 2017: 2,244 children missing (723 boys, 1,521 girls)

Notwithstanding ongoing efforts by the Odisha Police to recover missing children, the consistent year-on-year rise in cases underscores an alarming scenario, particularly concerning the safety of minor girls. This steady escalation in missing children cases, despite routine police operations, signals a grave breakdown in child protection mechanisms, leaving minor girls dangerously exposed.

Also read: Odisha: Three missing tribal girls from government hostel found in Sambalpur

Odisha Crime Branch
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