The Gujarat government disclosed in the state Assembly that out of 198 missing children in Junagadh and Gir Somnath districts in the last two years, 196 have been located. Minister of State for Law and Justice, Kaushik Vekariya, revealed that Junagadh had 152 missing children cases, while Gir Somnath had 46. All 46 missing children in Gir Somnath and 150 in Junagadh have been found, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining two.
The state police, underlining the importance of swift action, handle missing children and women cases with utmost care and promptness. Minister Vekariya emphasized the emotional turmoil families face when a child goes missing, likening it to a significant loss. He highlighted the critical “golden hours” within the first 24 hours of a disappearance, during which immediate police actions are crucial.
Gujarat has been effectively utilizing the Central government’s ‘Mission Vatsalya portal’ to reunite missing children with their families. The portal matches unidentified children with the missing children database, aiding in successful reunions. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau for 2023 ranks Gujarat 27th in child crime rates nationwide, indicating a relatively lower incidence compared to other states.
In a separate address to the Assembly, Minister Vekariya mentioned the implementation of the ‘Student Police Cadet’ scheme by the state government. This initiative targets discipline, civic awareness, and legal understanding among school students, aiming to foster positive qualities early on. The scheme enrolls students from selected government and grant-in-aid schools in Classes 8 and 9, offering a structured curriculum combining indoor and outdoor training sessions.
