Odisha Unveils OSWALI, India’s First Non-Navy Watermanship & Lifeguard Institute

Bhubaneswar, Dec 12 : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday inaugurated the Odisha Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (OSWALI) at Ramachandi near Konark, marking a major milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen coastal safety, watermanship training and disaster-response capability.

Touted as the first institute in the country outside the Indian Navy to offer specialized watermanship and lifeguard training, OSWALI is set to function as a national-level centre of excellence. The Chief Minister said the institute would emerge as a dedicated national and international hub for water safety, coastal resilience and disaster-management preparedness.

The centre will train fire personnel from across India, central paramilitary forces, police, home guards, NDRF teams and volunteers involved in disaster management. Trainees from Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states are already undergoing training. The institute has recently trained Navy personnel in fire-fighting and NDRF teams in scuba diving, strengthening Odisha’s growing reputation in disaster preparedness.

On the occasion, Majhi also laid the foundation stone for an advanced Scuba Complex, aimed at expanding underwater rescue and scuba-diving training across the state. The Swimming & Lifeguard Training Centre has been built at a cost of Rs 12 crore, with an additional Rs 10 crore earmarked for scuba-diving facilities in the current budget.

A unique Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Odisha Tourism, Odisha Fire & Emergency Services and NIWS Goa to develop water-sports safety standards, undertake professional lifeguard training and boost coastal and adventure tourism. This marks the first-ever formal partnership between a state tourism department and a fire services department for lifeguard training.

The event featured an impressive Watermanship Show by Odisha Fire & Emergency Services personnel, showcasing rescue techniques and coastal emergency readiness.

Majhi said Odisha’s fire-service-led disaster-management system has earned national recognition, successfully handling two major cyclones in the last 18 months. Leveraging this expertise, the state will now train personnel from other states and central forces at OSWALI, with the ultimate aim of saving lives and safeguarding property during natural calamities.

The Chief Minister also instructed the Odisha Police Housing Corporation to expedite construction of the new scuba training centre, ensuring its development positions Odisha as a model in advanced disaster-management training.

With the adoption of the state’s Adventure Sports Policy, the facility will also enable tourists to experience scuba diving and other water-sports activities, strengthening Odisha’s coastal tourism potential.