More than 50,000 women and girls reported missing across Madhya Pradesh over the past six years remain untraced, the state government informed the Assembly, highlighting the continuing challenge of locating thousands of vulnerable individuals despite large-scale rescue efforts.
According to data placed before the House, a total of 2,69,500 women and girls were reported missing between 2020 and early 2026. Of these, over 1.58 lakh have been traced and rescued, while the remaining cases are still categorised as “pending” as there is no confirmed information on their whereabouts.
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Alarming Statistics and Urban Hotspots
The figures show that more than 2.06 lakh women and around 63,500 girls went missing during the period under review. While the majority were located through police action, nearly 48,000 women and about 2,200 girls continue to be unaccounted for, indicating gaps in tracking, inter-state coordination and long-term rehabilitation mechanisms.
Among the major urban centres, Indore reported the highest number of missing women, followed by Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Industrial and rapidly urbanising districts recorded a higher incidence of missing persons, though tribal and border regions also featured prominently in the data, suggesting a complex mix of migration, trafficking vulnerabilities and socio-economic factors.
Government Measures and Ongoing Efforts
The government maintained that cases are not treated as closed until concrete information is obtained, and search efforts continue through police stations, specialised units and inter-state alerts. Women’s police stations and dedicated help desks have been tasked with monitoring such cases and ensuring prompt registration and investigation of complaints.
To strengthen response mechanisms, 52 women’s police stations and 987 help desks are currently operational across the state. Special campaigns have been launched to trace missing minors, while separate programmes aimed at adolescent awareness and community vigilance are being implemented to prevent trafficking and exploitation.
A year-long drive is underway to track missing children, with periodic reviews conducted at the police headquarters level. Authorities said court warrants related to maintenance and protection of women are also being executed through targeted operations, aimed at addressing broader vulnerabilities linked to abandonment and economic distress.
Challenges and Future Strategies
Despite these measures, the scale of the problem has raised concerns about systemic gaps in prevention, early reporting and rehabilitation. Lawmakers sought details on long-term strategies, budgetary allocations and coordination between departments dealing with women’s safety, social justice and labour migration.
The government has earmarked ₹41,88,54,200 for women’s safety initiatives in the 2025–26 financial year, covering infrastructure, awareness campaigns and support services. Officials indicated that technology-based tracking, database integration and coordination with other states are being strengthened to improve recovery rates.
The data also underscores the need for better monitoring of repeat missing cases, runaway minors and trafficking-prone districts. Police sources acknowledged that economic migration, domestic disputes, child marriages and organised trafficking networks contribute to a significant share of missing cases, complicating recovery efforts.
Authorities have urged families to report disappearances immediately, as early registration significantly improves tracing outcomes. Community-level vigilance committees and school-based awareness programmes are being expanded to identify vulnerable individuals at an early stage.
While the government emphasised that a majority of missing persons have been located, the persistence of tens of thousands of untraced cases continues to pose a serious law-and-order and humanitarian challenge. The Assembly discussion is expected to lead to a detailed review of existing mechanisms, with a focus on faster investigation, inter-state intelligence sharing and rehabilitation of rescued victims.
The pending cases remain under active investigation, with officials stating that efforts will continue until the whereabouts of each missing woman and girl are established.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
