Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP)

Why in News?

India would soon have over 100 tsunami-ready villages in the Indian Ocean region & India will be the 1^st country with as many villages in this region with this distinction.

• TRRP – It is an international voluntary community-based effort to bolster risk prevention and mitigation across global coastal zones.
• Aim – To build tsunami resilience through awareness and preparedness strategies that will protect life, livelihoods and property from tsunamis.
• Developed by - UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
• Stakeholders Involved –
  • Communities at risk - Millions living in coastal hazard zones.
  • Warning & emergency agencies - Provide alerts and manage responses.
  • Government authorities - Integrate tsunami risk mitigation into development agendas.
  • Community leaders & public - Spread awareness and encourage participation.
• Standardised Indicators – The communities must meet all 12 indicators, covering:
  • Assessment - Hazard mapping, risk assessment.
  • Preparedness - Public display of maps, education materials, community training (search/rescue, first aid).
  • Response - 24-hour warning systems, annual mock drills, clear evacuation plans, integration into emergency plans.
• Recognition – The villages that meet all criteria receive "Tsunami Ready" certification, which is renewable every 4 years.
• Examples include - Cannes, France; Venkatraipur, Odisha, India; Glagah & Kemadang, Indonesia; etc.
• National Implementation – In India, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, through the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), leads the effort via the National Tsunami Ready Board, training villages in skills for tsunamis, cyclones, and floods.
• Current & Upcoming Status – Odisha leads India with 24 certified villages (adding 72 more), while Gujarat, Kerala (9 by 2026), Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are preparing communities for Tsunami Ready recognition.

References

1. Indian Express | 100 villages to be tsunami-ready in Indian Ocean region
2. UNESCO | Tsunami Ready Initiative