Girls missing from N-K traced to red-light areas

Bangalore, December 4: Karnataka Women’s Commission (KWC) has revealed that around 50 per cent of girls in the age group of12 to 30, who go missing from north Karnataka districts, remain untraced. However, nearly 85 per cent of girls missing from south Karnataka districts are traced.

Many of the missing girls from north Karnataka are later found in red light areas of Mumbai and other bigger cities, said KWC?Chairperson Manjula on Monday after submitting a report on ‘Issues and Concerns of Missing Girls in Karnataka – A Case Study of Mysore City’ to Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, who also holds the home portfolio.

“The Commission, during its recent visit to red-light areas in Mumbai found that a large number of girls were from north Karnataka. The State government should take appropriate steps to rescue and rehabilitate them,” she added.

Statistics show that on an average about 200 to 300 girls go missing from each district annually. And, the number of cases of girls missing is on the rise. In 2009, as many as 4,720 cases were registered as against 6,005 in 2010 and 4,264 cases in 2011 (till September).

“After analysing the data, the Commission realised that it was a major problem the State was facing. Among the districts, Mysore registered highest number of 506 cases in 2011,” she stated.

Torture by husband

According to the case study of Mysore city done by the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, University of Mysore, on behalf of the Commission, about 38 per cent of women went missing because of torture by their husbands.

“Husbands are either alcoholic or irresponsible or treated their wives badly. Hence, their wives deserted them,” the report stated.

Love affair is the second major cause for the increase in the number of girls going missing in Mysore.

“About 36 per cent girls go missing because of love, affection, attraction and infatuation. Even educated girls from decent families go missing because they are in love with boys belonging to other communities,” the report said.

Academic pressure, family negligence and poor economic condition are some of other reasons. The study has also revealed that a majority of the missing girls are educated.

“An important observation is that illiteracy is not a reason for girls going missing.

Majority of the missing girls were from below poverty line families,” the KWC chairperson said.

Ashoka said the girls going missing is a disgrace to society. The government will deal firmly with all those who are involved in such cases, especially human trafficking.

The Home department will study the report and take appropriate action on all recommendations, the minister added.