In Odisha, a staggering number of over 36,000 women and 8,400 children were reported missing in a span of five years, according to Majhi.

Over the past five years, there have been a total of 36,420 missing women and 8,403 missing children in the state of Odisha, as shared by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during a session at the assembly on Monday. Out of these, 421 women were reportedly trafficked to other states with the help of middlemen, leading to the arrest of 453 individuals involved in the crime. The police have been actively registering cases based on complaints and have been taking necessary actions to locate and bring back the trafficked women, as stated by the CM in a written response to the House.

In the duration of 2020-2024, a total of 1,417 women and 1,857 children who had gone missing were successfully found and traced, according to the CM. Additionally, the state government has also rescued 784 child labourers. Shedding light on the measures taken to prevent women and child trafficking in Odisha, Majhi mentioned the creation of 36 Integrated Anti Human Trafficking Units (IAHTUs). These units serve as contact points to address such cases in Bolangir, Nuapada, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, and Jharsuguda.

Furthermore, the police have been organizing awareness campaigns at the local level to educate people and prevent trafficking cases. Strengthening their patrolling in high-risk areas such as bus stands and railway stations, the police have been taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of women and children. The CM also shared that special training is being provided to police personnel to help them identify, investigate and prevent such incidents from happening again.

In another written response, the Chief Minister informed that during 2024, 6,437 cases of kidnapping and abduction of women were reported in various police stations of Odisha, and 413 individuals have been arrested in connection with these cases. These numbers are alarming and the state government is taking necessary actions to combat this issue. With the help of increased awareness, stronger patrolling, and specialized training for the police force, we hope to prevent such crimes from happening and ensure the safety and well-being of women and children in Odisha.

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