India to Have 100 Tsunami Ready Villages

Context of the Initiative

India to Have 100 Tsunami Ready Villages: India has set a target to develop 100 tsunami-ready villages along its vulnerable coastline. This effort builds on the recent recognition of 24 coastal villages in Odisha as Tsunami Ready by UNESCO under the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP).

The recognition follows verification by India’s National Tsunami Ready Recognition Board (NTRB). These villages have demonstrated high preparedness standards against tsunami hazards.

This initiative strengthens India’s disaster risk reduction framework, especially for communities exposed to seismic and oceanic threats.

What Does Tsunami Ready Mean

A tsunami-ready village is one that meets strict criteria related to early warning response, community awareness, and evacuation preparedness. Villages must display hazard maps publicly and ensure clear evacuation routes.

They are required to have 24-hour tsunami warning reception systems and trained local response teams. Regular mock drills and public education campaigns are mandatory components.

The goal is to ensure that communities can respond within minutes of a tsunami warning.

Static GK fact: Tsunamis are primarily caused by undersea earthquakes along tectonic plate boundaries.

UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme

The TRRP is a voluntary, community-based programme launched by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). It focuses on reducing loss of life through preparedness rather than post-disaster relief.

The programme evaluates communities based on 12 internationally standardized indicators. These include risk knowledge, warning dissemination, evacuation planning, and community participation.

Recognition under TRRP is valid for four years and must be renewed through re-evaluation.

Static GK Tip: Preparedness-based disaster management is globally considered more cost-effective than recovery-based approaches.

Institutional Framework in India

In India, TRRP is implemented by the National Tsunami Ready Recognition Board (NTRB). The board functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The NTRB is chaired by the Director of INCOIS and includes members from NDMA, Ministry of Home Affairs, and other technical institutions. It verifies compliance with all TRRP indicators.

Operational support comes from the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC).

Role of Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre

The ITEWC, located at INCOIS, Hyderabad, provides real-time tsunami advisories to India and other Indian Ocean countries. It ensures last-mile connectivity through multiple communication channels.

Advanced technologies like Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPRs) and satellite-based communication systems are used to detect and transmit tsunami signals.

This technological backbone enables faster evacuation decisions at the village level.

Static GK fact: India established its Tsunami Early Warning System after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

NDMA Guidelines and Capacity Building

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued Tsunami Risk Management Guidelines. These emphasize awareness generation, education, training, and research.

Capacity building of coastal communities is a core pillar of these guidelines. Integration of local governance institutions is strongly encouraged.

The tsunami-ready village model directly aligns with NDMA’s preventive disaster management approach.

UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) was established in 1960 and is headquartered in Paris, France. India is among its 152 member states.

IOC coordinates global tsunami warning systems and ocean science initiatives. It also leads the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

Static GK fact: The Ocean Decade aims to support sustainable use of ocean resources through science-based policies.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

India to Have 100 Tsunami Ready Villages: