632 Required preparedness due to rapid shift in drowning circumstances primarily due to changing social, climatic and global warming – demands shifting drowning prevention as a national govt. issue rather than a state subject to bring down the curren

<h3>Background</h3> The drowning figure of 37,793 yearly i.e. 104 people per day is highest in the world. Climatic change has brought in floods in traditional dry regions, increase in number of cyclones, storms, cloud bursts, etc. People are facing massive water crisis are forced to use river or pond water which increases drowning. Global warming initiated increase in sea water temperature leading to frequency in cyclones, inundation of islands, coastline and traditionally habitated inland areas along the tidal rivers, old Port cities, etc. Indian drowning figures are also due to non-existent “Drowning Prevention Education” among the children and also non-existent infrastructure for executing a “Survival Training Programme” in most of the places. <h3>Objective</h3> Central Govt. initiated survey to determine the State/District/Block wise no. of deaths due to drowning, causes leading to the drowning, etc. Such data shall help in making a Strategy and Plan. Then execute a proper Drowning Prevention Policy. Reduction in the national drowning figures by a reasonable percentage within 2030. <h3>Policy Analysis</h3> Drowning Prevention Policy and Strategy needs to be bifurcated as per the need of the regional vulnerability. We have to prepare the population of the place strategically as per the predicted hazard. The focus on preventive strategy shall have to be increased many fold to counter drowning due to predicted disasters like Urban flooding, Tsunamis, Cloud bursts and Storm Surge which are becoming a major reason for drowning. A State centric approach shall not bring in any result as we have seen in the past due to mainly our Federal Structure where many State Govts. sometimes fail to realize the urgency and gravity of the problem in most of the times. <h3>Policy Implications</h3> A Central Govt. initiated programme shall ensure State’s participation, implementation, monitoring, data collection and analysis shall lead to course correction as and when required. <h3>Conclusion</h3> One of the major Drowning Prevention Intervention programme, “Swim and Survive”, is imparted to school children through a 21 hours programme and has a measurable outcome. It’s very easily assessed by a test at the end of the programme.