18 Children Go Missing Every Day in Uttar Pradesh, Concern Grows
6,484 Children Reported Missing in 2024; Two-Thirds Are Girls, Reveals NCRB Report
Lucknow: Cases of missing children continue to raise serious concerns in Uttar Pradesh. According to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 6,484 children were reported missing in the state in 2024. This marks an increase of nearly 5 percent compared to 6,167 cases recorded in 2023. The figures indicate that, on average, 18 children went missing every day across the state.
An analysis of NCRB data conducted by Child Rights and You (CRY) revealed that Uttar Pradesh remains among the top ten states in the country in terms of missing children cases. The national situation is equally alarming. In 2024, a total of 1,47,175 children were reported missing across India, including 1,11,271 girls. This is 6.2 percent higher than the figures recorded in 2023.
11 Girls Going Missing Daily
Girls account for the highest number of missing children cases in Uttar Pradesh. According to the report, 4,143 girls went missing in 2024, which means an average of 11 girls disappeared every day in the state. In 2023 as well, girls accounted for 65.3 percent of all missing children cases, highlighting growing concerns over their safety and vulnerability.
Recovery Rate Improves, But Challenge Persists
The report stated that 4,868 children were traced in 2024, accounting for nearly 75 percent of total missing cases. In comparison, the recovery rate in 2023 stood at 66.6 percent. The number of untraced children also declined from 2,057 in 2023 to 1,616 in 2024. Officials attribute the improvement to better coordination, administrative efforts, and stronger follow-up mechanisms.
CRY Regional Director Soha Moitra said that while the child tracing system in Uttar Pradesh has improved, a significant number of children still remain missing. She emphasized the need to strengthen preventive measures, improve coordination among agencies, and ensure timely follow-up in every case.
New Cases Rising Every Year
Data further revealed that 4,427 fresh cases were registered in 2024, indicating that new incidents continue to add to the gravity of the issue each year. Experts believe that community-level awareness and stronger safety mechanisms are essential to tackle the problem effectively.
‘Bal Prahari’ Initiative Promotes Awareness
Soha Moitra said that CRY is working to increase awareness regarding child safety through initiatives such as “Bal Prahari” at the village and पंचायत levels. The campaign focuses on alerting communities about child trafficking, child labour, child marriage, and cases of missing children.
