TSUNAMI READY VILLAGES IN IOR
Why in News :
- India will soon have more than 100 tsunami-ready villages in the Indian Ocean region.
- India will become the first country in the region to achieve this milestone.
- These villages will be officially recognised under the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready programme.
WHAT IS A TSUNAMI READY VILLAGE?
Meaning
- A tsunami-ready village is a coastal village that is well prepared to face tsunami hazards.
- Such villages have high awareness, proper planning, and quick response systems
Key Features of Tsunami-Ready Villages
- High public awareness about tsunamis.
- Hazard preparedness and risk mapping.
- Public display of evacuation maps.
- 24-hour tsunami warning systems.
- Regular mock drills and community participation.
- Coordination with local and national disaster agencies.
Certification Authority
- The certification is awarded by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
TSUNAMI READY PROGRAM
Nature of the Programme
- It is a voluntary and community-based programme.
- It focuses on active participation of local communities.
- Community leaders, disaster agencies, and governments work together.
Aim and Objectives
- To build resilient coastal communities.
- To reduce loss of life, livelihoods, and property due to tsunamis.
- To improve preparedness, awareness, and response capacity.
STATUS OF TSUNAMI READY VILLAGES IN INDIA
Existing Coverage
- India already has 24 certified coastal villages.
- These villages are spread across six coastal districts.
Odisha’s Major Contribution
- Odisha is set to add 72 more villages under this programme.
- This will make Odisha a key contributor to tsunami preparedness.
Other States and UTs
- Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have identified villages.
- Kerala has proposed nine coastal villages.
- These villages are expected to be certified by March–April 2026.
ROLE OF INCOIS
Key Institution
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad plays a central role.
Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre
- INCOIS operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre.
- It tracks earthquakes across the world.
- It issues tsunami warnings for the Indian Ocean region.
Coordinating Role
- INCOIS is the coordinating agency for implementing the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready initiative in India.
- It has started pilot-scale activities in all coastal States and UTs.
ABOUT TSUNAMI READY RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Programme Details
- It is an international recognition programme.
- Developed by the IOC of UNESCO.
Methodology
- Communities must meet all 12 indicators.
- Indicators cover Assessment, Preparedness, and Response.
- Only after fulfilling these indicators, a village is recognised as Tsunami Ready.
Validity
- The recognition is renewable every four years.
- Villages must maintain preparedness standards to continue certification.
SIGNIFICANCE
- Strengthens disaster preparedness at the grassroots level.
- Reduces casualties and damage during tsunamis.
- Enhances community confidence and early response capacity.
Supports India’s leadership role in disaster risk reduction in the Indian Ocean region.
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