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.
TSUNAMI READY VILLAGES IN IOR explained for UPSC

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.