Sharp increase in child kidnappings across Karnataka; 1094 children still missing | Sanchara Yukta project

Sharp increase in child kidnappings across Karnataka; 1094 children still missing

Why in news :

• In three years, 9,639 cases of missing children reported in Karnataka; 1,094 remain untraced

Key Highlights

• Regional Distribution: Bengaluru city accounts for nearly one-third of the total cases, followed by Bengaluru Rural and Tumakuru districts.
• Gender Statistics: A significant number of missing cases involved girls (6,894 cases), with 825 of these cases still pending.
• Yearly Trends:
• 2023: 3,039 cases reported; 77 unresolved.
• 2024: 3,411 cases reported; 145 untraced.
• 2025 (till Nov 15): 3,189 cases reported; 872 unresolved.
• District-wise Breakdown:
• Bengaluru: 3,268 cases reported; 426 pending.
• Bengaluru Rural: 694 cases reported; 55 untraced.
• Tumakuru: 450 cases reported in the last three years; 33 unresolved.

Sanchara Yukta project

Why in news :

• Sanchara Yukta project may add 90 km of roads beyond GBA limits

The Sanchara Yukta project

• It is a major infrastructure initiative by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) designed to decongest Bengaluru’s traffic by constructing nearly 300 km of new roads along the buffer zones of stormwater drains (rajakaluves).

Key Objectives and Features

• Buffer Zone Roads: The project focuses on utilizing the buffer zones of stormwater drains to create additional road capacity, strengthen neighbourhood streets, and prevent illegal encroachments.
• Vehicle Restrictions: To ensure stability on these buffer zones, heavy vehicles are generally prohibited; most of these routes will be reserved for cars and two-wheelers.
• Funding & Land: The project is part of the ₹3,000 crore (₹30 billion) “Brand Bengaluru” concept.

Additional Information – BRAND BENGALURU 

• Brand Bengaluru concept has been classified into eight categories

SUGAMA SANCHARA (FREE MOVEMENT) 

• Focus – Bengaluru City Comprehensive Mobility Plan (BCCMP) + construction of a tunnel road.

CLEAN BENGALURU

• Land parcels of 50 to 100 acres each will be identified in different directions for treating waste for the next 25 to 30 years(Rs 100 crore)

SHE TOILETS 

• Make public infrastructure woman-friendly – By Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML)
• Sharane Satyakka award with an amount of Rs 50,000 will be paid to eight pourakarmikas (workers who carry out cleaning of public places) in eight zones in recognition of their honest and dedicated work.

HASIRU BENGALURU (GREEN BENGALURU) 

• Bengaluru’s first ever Climate Action and Resilience Plan (BCAP Climate Action and Resilience Plan) was launched on 27 November 2023  
• ‘Hasiru Rakshak’, – a mobile application has been developed to sensitize school/college students on the importance of plants and trees in the environment and 2 lakhs saplings will be planted in the current year 

HEALTHY BENGALURU 

• Twenty-seven e-vehicles (1 per constituency) under ‘Mane Bagilige Chuchhu Maddu’ shall be made functional to improve immunization and cover last mile coverage

EDUCATION BENGALURU 

• To enhance the quality of education, the BBMP will set up a well-equipped computer lab, digital lab, Information technology lab and e-libraries (Rs 10 crore)

TECH BENGALURU  

• Strengthening IT staff (Rs 50 crore)

VIBRANT BENGALURU 

• To provide a grant of Rs100 crore to illuminate with attractive electric lights in flyovers, underbridges, road junctions and parks
• The BBMP will set up ‘Pink Rooms’ that will have sanitary napkins at malls, bus stations and toilets and they would act as rest rooms for women during menstruation

WELFARE PROGRAMMES

E-Sarathi scheme for the welfare of women,

• Targeted beneficiary – Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward minorities, and the transgender community
• Objective – to providing financial assistance for the purchase of approximately 250 electric autos or goods e-autos (Rs 5 crore)
• ‘Savitri Vasathi’ hostels for working women.