Bhubaneswar : Every year, preventable drowning claims hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide, with children bearing the greatest burden. In Odisha alone, nearly 9,000 people have lost their lives to drowning over the past five years, according to official government data. Many of these tragedies occur silently in village ponds, irrigation canals, rivers and flooded fields and could have been prevented.
Against this backdrop, Odisha marked a significant milestone by hosting its first State Consultation on Drowning Prevention, bringing together government representatives, technical experts, researchers, public health professionals, community leaders and international partners to strengthen coordinated action to save lives.
Hosted by the Child in Need Institute (CINI) under the global World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 theme "Unite to Turn the Tide," the consultation was convened to support implementation of India's National Strategic Framework for Prevention of Unintentional Injuries, including Drowning, helping translate national guidance into coordinated action at the state level. The event also launched Odisha's month-long World Drowning Prevention campaign, running from 10 July to 15 August, to promote water safety and community action across the state.
The consultation took place just days after the Government of Odisha announced a comprehensive state-wide initiative to prevent drowning through the identification of high-risk "drowning black spots", safety audits of water bodies, community lifeguard training in every Gram Panchayat, expansion of swimming and survival skills, and strengthened public awareness and water safety measures.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Manas Pratim Roy, Assistant Director General, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, highlighted the importance of translating India's National Strategic Framework into coordinated action through stronger partnerships, evidence-based interventions and community engagement.
The consultation was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; Government of Odisha; World Health Organization (WHO) India; Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), United Kingdom; India Meteorological Department; Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA); National Health Mission (NHM); academia; civil society organisations; and community representatives. Ms. Saswati Nayak Mohapatra, State Head, CINI Odisha, also attended the consultation.
Introducing the objectives of the consultation, Mr. Meghendra Banerjee, Chief of Programmes, CINI, said preventing drowning requires coordinated action across health, education, disaster management, local government, research institutions and communities, with children remaining at the centre of prevention efforts.
Speaking during the consultation, Sujoy Roy, Lead – Injury Prevention & National Advocacy, CINI, said: "Children continue to bear the greatest burden of drowning. Over the past eight years, CINI has worked alongside communities using WHO-recommended approaches to strengthen child supervision, survival swimming, rescue and resuscitation skills, safer environments around water bodies and community awareness. Our experience shows that lasting change is possible only when governments, communities and development partners work together. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safely."
The consultation aligned Odisha's efforts with the World Health Organization's global campaign for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026. While the global drowning death rate has fallen by 38% since 2000, more than 300,000 people still die from drowning every year. This year's campaign theme "Unite to Turn the Tide" calls on governments, communities and individuals to work together towards the global target of reducing drowning deaths by a further 35% by 2035.
Following the ceremonial launch of the campaign, participants collectively took the World Drowning Prevention Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to contribute to the global target through stronger partnerships, evidence-based interventions and community action.
The consultation concluded with the adoption of the Odisha Call to Action on Drowning Prevention, reaffirming a shared commitment to protect children and other vulnerable populations, strengthen community resilience, improve water safety and advance a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to preventing drowning.
As Odisha begins its World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 campaign, the consultation delivered a clear message: drowning is not inevitable. With political commitment, community leadership and evidence-based action, lives can be saved.
Every drowning is preventable. Every child deserves a safer future. Together, we can turn the tide.
Bhubaneswar : Every year, preventable drowning claims hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide, with children bearing the greatest burden. In Odisha alone, nearly 9,000 people have lost their lives to drowning over the past five years, according to official government data. Many of these tragedies occur silently in village ponds, irrigation canals, rivers and flooded fields and could have been prevented.
Against this backdrop, Odisha marked a significant milestone by hosting its first State Consultation on Drowning Prevention, bringing together government representatives, technical experts, researchers, public health professionals, community leaders and international partners to strengthen coordinated action to save lives.
Hosted by the Child in Need Institute (CINI) under the global World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 theme "Unite to Turn the Tide," the consultation was convened to support implementation of India's National Strategic Framework for Prevention of Unintentional Injuries, including Drowning, helping translate national guidance into coordinated action at the state level. The event also launched Odisha's month-long World Drowning Prevention campaign, running from 10 July to 15 August, to promote water safety and community action across the state.
The consultation took place just days after the Government of Odisha announced a comprehensive state-wide initiative to prevent drowning through the identification of high-risk "drowning black spots", safety audits of water bodies, community lifeguard training in every Gram Panchayat, expansion of swimming and survival skills, and strengthened public awareness and water safety measures.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Manas Pratim Roy, Assistant Director General, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, highlighted the importance of translating India's National Strategic Framework into coordinated action through stronger partnerships, evidence-based interventions and community engagement.
The consultation was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India; Government of Odisha; World Health Organization (WHO) India; Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), United Kingdom; India Meteorological Department; Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA); National Health Mission (NHM); academia; civil society organisations; and community representatives. Ms. Saswati Nayak Mohapatra, State Head, CINI Odisha, also attended the consultation.
Introducing the objectives of the consultation, Mr. Meghendra Banerjee, Chief of Programmes, CINI, said preventing drowning requires coordinated action across health, education, disaster management, local government, research institutions and communities, with children remaining at the centre of prevention efforts.
Speaking during the consultation, Sujoy Roy, Lead – Injury Prevention & National Advocacy, CINI, said: "Children continue to bear the greatest burden of drowning. Over the past eight years, CINI has worked alongside communities using WHO-recommended approaches to strengthen child supervision, survival swimming, rescue and resuscitation skills, safer environments around water bodies and community awareness. Our experience shows that lasting change is possible only when governments, communities and development partners work together. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safely."
The consultation aligned Odisha's efforts with the World Health Organization's global campaign for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026. While the global drowning death rate has fallen by 38% since 2000, more than 300,000 people still die from drowning every year. This year's campaign theme "Unite to Turn the Tide" calls on governments, communities and individuals to work together towards the global target of reducing drowning deaths by a further 35% by 2035.
Following the ceremonial launch of the campaign, participants collectively took the World Drowning Prevention Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to contribute to the global target through stronger partnerships, evidence-based interventions and community action.
The consultation concluded with the adoption of the Odisha Call to Action on Drowning Prevention, reaffirming a shared commitment to protect children and other vulnerable populations, strengthen community resilience, improve water safety and advance a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to preventing drowning.
As Odisha begins its World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 campaign, the consultation delivered a clear message: drowning is not inevitable. With political commitment, community leadership and evidence-based action, lives can be saved.
Every drowning is preventable. Every child deserves a safer future. Together, we can turn the tide.
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