Over 20,000 Missing Person Cases Logged in Odisha Since June 2024
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Synopsis
In Odisha, a staggering 20,060 missing person cases have been logged over the past nine months. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that 7,048 individuals have been traced, while 13,012 remain unaccounted for, highlighting the challenges faced in reporting and locating missing persons.
Key Takeaways
- 20,060 missing cases reported in Odisha.
- 7,048 individuals successfully traced.
- 13,012 remain unaccounted for.
- Delays due to reluctance in reporting.
- Implementation of Mission Vatsalya for child reintegration.
Bhubaneswar, March 17 (NationPress) A total of 20,060 cases concerning missing individuals have been recorded at various police stations in Odisha over the past nine months.
The Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, disclosed this information while responding to a question from Congress MLA Sofia Firdous in the Odisha Assembly on Monday.
Majhi further indicated that police authorities successfully located 7,048 missing persons from the overall 20,060 cases reported in the state from June 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025.
As it stands, 13,012 individuals who went missing during this timeframe remain unaccounted for by the police.
Majhi pointed out that a significant factor contributing to the delay in locating missing persons is the hesitation of relatives to report cases promptly, often due to social stigma, lack of awareness, and other reasons.
“Some individuals leave the state for employment without notifying their families, leading to reports of them as missing. There are also cases involving girls who have run away with boys/men and avoid police attention out of fear of legal repercussions against their companions,” CM Majhi explained.
The Chief Minister noted that in numerous instances, informants and relatives of missing persons hesitate to share the full truth with police initially, for various reasons.
Many cases remain unresolved in records, as when missing children are found in different districts or states, they do not provide necessary details about their identity, such as their parents’ names, village, district, and other pertinent information to the relevant police station.
The Mission Vatsalya portal, initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, aims to integrate various stakeholders, including law enforcement and child welfare organizations, to ensure the reintegration of missing and recovered children with their families by uploading their details on the portal.
“However, details about children in Child Care Institutions nationwide are not being uploaded by CWCs, CCIs, etc., making it challenging to link these children to missing cases reported at different police stations in Odisha,” CM Majhi added.
He further suggested the incorporation of Facial Recognition software into the Mission Vatsalya Portal to streamline the identification process for such children and facilitate their reunification with their parents.
To tackle these challenges, the state government is focusing on filling vacancies in IAHTU, SJPU, and police stations.
The government has also allocated Rs 3.24 crore to the Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) across all districts and Rs 2.61 crore to IUCAWs in 29 districts for the acquisition of vehicles and drivers to aid in the transportation of rescued children for reintegration into their families.
CM Majhi mentioned that his government has also committed to providing funds to the Mahila and Sishu Desks of all 649 police stations to cover expenses related to food and other costs associated with the rescue of missing women and children.
The government plans to allocate Rs 19.47 crore, providing Rs 25,000 per Mahila and Sishu Desk of each police station every month.
