Odisha Sees Sharp Rise in Missing Children Cases; CM Majhi Highlights Child Safety Concerns

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly that Odisha has witnessed a significant rise in missing children cases over the past two years.He presented data showing 6,838 children reported missing in 2024, which increased to 8,206 in 2025.Rescue operations traced 5,942 children in 2024. However, despite the higher number of missing cases in 2025, only 6,036 children were rescued, raising concerns about child protection and monitoring mechanisms. Majhi acknowledged the challenges and stressed the need to strengthen law enforcement and tracking systems.Crime trends in major cities revealed mixed patterns. In Cuttack, murder cases rose slightly from 21 in 2024 to 24 in 2025. Bhubaneswar, however, recorded a decline, with murder cases dropping from 43 in 2024 to 33 in 2025, though the capital still reported higher numbers compared to other cities.Majhi assured the Assembly that the government is working to improve child safety measures and address crime trends through stronger policing and community awareness. He emphasised that protecting children remains a top priority for the state.