Number of missing females alarming in StateBy Prabal Kr Das
http://www.assamtribune.com/ GUWAHATI, April 22 – It is a situation that no civil society can ignore. The number of missing females, both adult and children, is creating a complex problem in the State. Many of those missing have gone untraced for long, others have not been found. Missing females undergo an experience that is usually more acute than that of their male counterparts. Some are mentally and physically abused, and even after they return home, adjustment or acceptance within society is arduous. The impact on family and friends is immense as they too endure painful absence of a loved one, have little recourse to information, and even risk social stigma. “The feeling is one of hopelessness and frustration, besides there are innuendoes to cope with!” said a young homemaker, whose college-going sister went missing from Guwahati. According to police data made available to this reporter, 3,903 females went missing in the State between 2000 and 2004. Among them the number of female children was 2,175. No less distressing is the fact that out of the total that disappeared, 2,327 could not be traced till date.The data, however, is not comprehensive, because many cases of missing females, especially adults go unreported. Social mores and family attitudes on many occasions restrain people from reporting missing adult females. It is an irony that no one would be able to quantify the magnitude of the problem. For the State the growing number of missing females has implications, which go beyond effects on family and friends. The trend could be perceived as a clear violation of human rights, if female children fall victims to trafficking. Similar is the case if adult females are compelled or induced to enter into prostitution.Several factors have been identified as responsible for females gone missing, two of them being kidnapping and elopement. The other that has in recent times appeared just as instrumental is trafficking. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Gunottam Bhuyan, IGP, CID, who is also the State nodal officer anti-trafficking, said that the emerging trend was a matter of serious concern and it required concerted action involving all stakeholders. “If the situation is not tackled now, there is a chance it would evolve into something that we cannot cope with. The rise in numbers of the missing would require resources, which might not be available.”Like him, those acquainted with the situation favour three basic steps to be implemented – prevention, prosecution and precaution. All three would have to be promoted by members of the police, NGOs and other welfare bodies. However, the step that should precede these should be building up a database. Till now, the State Government does not have a comprehensive list of missing persons with their identifying details and other information. The public also need to be made aware about the need for speedy reporting of missing females.According to Bhuyan, two other measures – rescue and rehabilitation – are required to redress the problem of missing females. “While we have witnessed rescue taking place from time to time, rehabilitation efforts should be redoubled. That should take care of the victim’s mental, physical as well as economic requirements.” The problem is even more complex while dealing with missing female children. They are often the worst sufferers and carry mental scars, which are hard to heal. In order to rescue and rehabilitate them, NGOs and other civil society groups have a role that is yet to filled in the State.
