Official data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development reveals 181 missing children in Jammu and Kashmir between July 2022 and June 2024. Nationwide, 58,546 children went missing during the same period.
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An official report from the Ministry of Women and Child Development has shed light on a concerning issue in Jammu and Kashmir, where a total of 181 kids went missing between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024. The data highlights a broader nationwide problem, with 58,546 kids reported missing across India during the same period. Despite the efforts of the Mission Vatsalya Scheme and the implementation of the ‘TrackChild’ portal, the recovery rate remains low, prompting the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the well-being of the missing children.
Disturbing Statistics of Missing Children in Jammu and Kashmir
The data provided by the Ministry of Women and Child Development has revealed alarming figures of missing kids in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the span of one year, 181 children have disappeared, raising concerns about their safety and well-being. A previous report by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) had already indicated a rising trend, with 627 children reported missing by 2020, comprising 350 boys and 277 girls. Disturbingly, in 2020 alone, 230 kids, including 167 girls and 63 boys, went missing in the region, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Mission Vatsalya Scheme’s Efforts and Challenges
In response to the escalating number of missing children cases, the government of Jammu and Kashmir introduced the Mission Vatsalya Scheme. Under this scheme, Child Welfare Committees have rescued and rehabilitated 817 children, including child laborers. However, despite these efforts, the recovery rate of missing children in J&K stands at a mere 29.2 percent, indicating the challenges faced in tracing and reuniting the missing kids with their families. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive care and support to the rescued kids, but more significant efforts are required to ensure their safety and well-being.
Addressing the Complex Issue of Missing Children.
The reasons behind missing kids cases in Jammu and Kashmir vary significantly between locals and non-locals. Local children often leave their homes due to familial conflicts, while non-locals primarily arrive in search of work opportunities. As a result, the Child Welfare Committees are dealing with more cases of missing non-local kids. The ‘TrackChild’ portal has been implemented as a crucial tool to address this issue effectively. Integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network Systems (CCTNS) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the portal allows citizens to report missing or sighted children, aiding state and UT police in tracing and reuniting them with their families.
Conclusion
The rise in missing kids cases in Jammu and Kashmir is a cause for concern, and the data provided by the Ministry of Women and Child Development has brought this issue to the forefront. The Mission Vatsalya Scheme, along with the ‘TrackChild’ portal, has taken steps towards addressing the problem, but challenges persist in ensuring the safety and recovery of the missing kids. Kashmir has not yet fully recovered from the devastation of old age catastrophe, and now this situation is another threat.
Mothers are afraid of sending their kids outside to play or do other activities. If the situation remained as such, all Kashmiri kids will be kept at home, far from outside world. A collective effort involving various stakeholders and robust SOPs is necessary to safeguard the well-being of these vulnerable kids and reunite them with their families and to restore peace in the valley.
