Mumbai: In a concerning revelation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis in his written reply informed the Legislative Council on Wednesday that 37,695 women have been reported missing in the state over the past year, including 4,096 minor girls and 33,599 adult women. The issue has raised fresh concerns about women’s safety across the state.
The data was shared in response to questions raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sunil Shinde, Congress MLC Satej Patil, and other members during the monsoon session of the Legislature.
In his reply, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the Council that 96% of the missing women have been traced, while a search operation is ongoing for the remaining 4%. He added that multiple initiatives are being implemented to curb such incidents and ensure faster recovery of missing persons.
The Chief Minister outlined the state’s key initiatives, including ‘Operation Muskan’ and ‘Operation Shodh’, aimed at tracing missing women and children.
Between July 2015 and December 2024, under Operation Muskan, 13 phases were carried out, resulting in the recovery of 41,193 children, including both boys and girls.
Most recently, from April 17 to May 15, 2025, under Operation Shodh, police traced 4,960 women and 1,364 children who were on official missing records. In addition, 106 women and 703 children not previously on official lists were also located.
New Orders and Institutional Measures
A new directive issued on April 15, 2025, mandates the creation of Missing Persons Cells at every police station. The ADG (Women’s Security) will now conduct bi-monthly reviews of such cases. Furthermore, Maharashtra has been linked to the centralized Missing Persons Portal, where all state police forces are required to upload and update data regularly.
The Home Department also issued a nine-point guideline for police units across the state to prevent and respond more effectively to missing women and child cases. Key measures include:
. Identifying hotspots where disappearances are frequent and studying their root causes.
. Strict action against criminal gangs operating in such areas.
. Training Missing Cell officers for a sensitive and effective response.
. Community policing initiatives with support from social welfare, health, and child development departments.
. Strengthening Police Kaka and Police Didi programs to identify and intervene in child safety cases.
. Organizing awareness sessions in schools, shelters, and coaching centers located in high-risk areas.
. Partnering with NGOs and other departments for awareness drives in vulnerable zones.
. Monthly briefings for vendors near transport hubs (rickshaw stands, bus and rail stations) to recognize missing persons.
. Promoting the use of helplines – Dial 112, 8657227777, and 2877777980 – to report missing women and children.
“Not Just a Police Issue, But a Sociological One”: CM Fadnavis
Responding to Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, who questioned the lack of coordination among the Police, Women’s Commission, and Child Welfare Department, CM Fadnavis acknowledged the gap.
“This issue must not be treated merely as a policing challenge but as a sociological problem. We are now working on a coordinated approach, including research and policy backed by behavioral and social analysis,” the Chief Minister assured.
A unit under the Bharosa Cell has already begun working on such cases, and efforts are underway to enhance its capabilities and cross-agency coordination.
