Madhya Pradesh has proven to be unsafe for girls in more than one way with the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data showing in that in the year 2018, on an average 16 girls were kidnapped or abducted every day during the year 2018.
More shockingly, 94 per cent of all kidnapped or abducted girls were in the age group of 12-18 years, an age group most vulnerable to violent sexual crimes. Also of all the children abducted during 2018, as high as 72.53 per cent (5767 out of 7951) were girls, a worryingly disproportionate number.
This trend was thrown up in an analysis by NGO Child Rights and You (CRY), done on the eve of National Girls Child Day (January 24).
Soha Moitra, Regional Director (North), Child Rights and You (CRY) said “This is alarming that 94 per cent of girls who were kidnapped or abducted in the year 2018 in MP were of age group 12 to 18 years. Usually, there is a generic response towards such trends that girls of this age group elope. This is high time we should break this narrative as these girls might be pushed into child labour, domestic trade and even sex trade”.
According to the NCRB report, Madhya Pradesh registered the third-highest number of cases of kidnapping and abduction (K&A) of children among all states during 2018 at 7951 — a 9.5 per cent increase over 2017 when 7259 minors were kidnapped or abducted. The figures for girls showed a higher rise (10 per cent) as 5767 girls were kidnapped or abducted in 2018 as against 5245 in 2017.
27% rise in five years
Further analysis by Child Rights and You (CRY) revealed that 27 per cent rise in cases victims of kidnapping and abduction of minor girls was recorded between 2014 and 2018. The NCRB data shows that the number of girl child victims of K&A increased from 4,546 in 2014 to 5,767 in the year 2018.
Though there was a significant decline in this number in the year 2015 when this figure decreased to 3,590 but it again jumped to 4,091 in the year 2016.
Teenage girls most vulnerable
The NCRB data also revealed that teenage girls are most prone to kidnapping and abduction in MP. In all 94 per cent cases of kidnapping and abduction of girls were reported in the age group 12-18 years. This figure is 92% at the national level. Of the total girl victims of K&A, 2,219 (38 per cent) were of age group 12-16 years while 3,214 ( 56 per cent) girls were of age group 16-18 years in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh also reported the highest number of minor rapes and third highest number of sexual offences with girls under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act in the year 2018.
Expressing concern over the present scenario of girl child in Madhya Pradesh on the eve of National Girl Child Day, Soha Moitra said whether it is about safety, health, education or nutrition, girls are vulnerable at every stage. “While some major efforts have been taken to ensure child protection by the state government, a lot more is needed to see expected results on the ground. There is a need to build the confidence of girls at a tender age to empower them physically as well as mentally. CRY does that through bringing together adolescent girls and providing them with a platform where they can share their concerns and participate in age-appropriate discussions,” she said.
