Over 50,000 Women and Girls Remain Missing in Madhya Pradesh, State Assembly Data Reveals
The Madhya Pradesh government has disclosed alarming figures in the state Assembly, indicating that more than 50,000 women and girls who went missing across the state over the last six years continue to remain untraceable. This revelation came in response to a question posed by Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria on February 18, highlighting a significant gap in rescue efforts and ongoing concerns about women's safety in the region.
Staggering Statistics on Missing Persons
According to the written reply provided by the government, a total of 2,69,500 women and girls were reported missing in Madhya Pradesh between 2020 and 2026. This includes over 2.06 lakh women and 63,500 girls. While authorities have managed to rescue 1.58 lakh missing women and 61,000 girls, the fate of the remaining individuals remains unknown. Specifically, cases involving approximately 48,000 missing women and 2,200 girls are still tagged as 'pending' due to a complete lack of information on their whereabouts.
The government emphasized that these missing cases should not be considered closed until concrete information about their fates is obtained. This stance underscores the ongoing investigation efforts and the seriousness with which the state is treating these disappearances.
Urban Centers Show High Incidence Rates
Among the four major cities in Madhya Pradesh, Indore—the state's industrial capital—topped the charts with 4,449 women and 135 girls reported missing over the six-year period. Bhopal (urban) followed with 1,685 missing women and 56 girls, while Jabalpur reported 2,296 women and 86 girls missing. Gwalior accounted for 1,188 missing women and 14 girls.
These figures point to a concentrated issue in urban areas, raising questions about the effectiveness of safety measures in densely populated regions. The data was specifically requested by Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria, who sought detailed information on reports registered across all police station areas, the number of individuals traced and rescued, and those still untraceable.
Government Initiatives and Budget Allocations
In response to the crisis, the state government outlined several measures aimed at enhancing women's safety and addressing the issue of missing persons. A total of 52 women's police stations have been established across Madhya Pradesh to ensure prompt hearing and disposal of complaints and cases related to women. Additionally, 987 women's helpdesks are operational throughout the state.
The government has also launched specialized campaigns to tackle the problem. 'Operation Helping Hand' is underway to enable prompt execution of court warrants for the maintenance and support of women. A year-long campaign is actively working to trace missing minor girls and boys, with both initiatives being continuously reviewed at the headquarters level by the women safety branch of the state police.
Awareness Programs and Financial Commitments
To prevent crimes against women and create awareness, the state has implemented integrated campaigns since January of this year. These include the 'Sraja' programme for adolescent girls, 'Abhimanyu' for boys, and the 'Samman' campaign for all women. These initiatives aim to educate and empower communities, fostering a safer environment for women and girls.
Financially, the government has allocated Rs 41,88,54,200 for women's safety in the fiscal year 2025–26. This budget is intended to support various safety measures, investigation efforts, and awareness programs. Instructions are regularly issued to police stations across the state for the prevention of crimes against women and for effective investigation of such cases.
The Congress MLA had also demanded details of the action plan by the concerned department regarding the missing women and girls, as well as the budget allocated for women's safety. The state's reply provides a glimpse into the ongoing efforts, but the high number of pending cases indicates that more work is needed to ensure the safety and security of women in Madhya Pradesh.
