INCOIS and Reliance Foundation Unite for Coastal Community Empowerment

The Reliance Foundation and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an independent body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at empowering residents of coastal regions, as per a statement from the Foundation.

Dr. Srinivasa Kumar, the esteemed Director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), joined by Jagannatha Kumar, the distinguished CEO of Reliance Foundation, along with several other notable participants, actively engaged in fruitful discussions during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing event.

This significant collaboration discussion took place on May 27, 2024, at the prestigious INCOIS campus located in Hyderabad, India, with the presence and leadership of Dr. Srinivasa Kumar and Jagannatha Kumar from INCOIS and Reliance Foundation, respectively.

After the collaboration both entities will work to leverage ocean data, enhancing climate resilience and disaster mitigation.

The Foundation stated “For marine fisherpersons, Reliance Foundation translates complex scientific information into locally relevant advisories to provide life-saving information and identify fishing zones. Reliance Foundation supports women in linkage and availing of schemes to increase returns from fish production and other high-value fishing activities. Working with fishing communities on the ground, Reliance Foundation partners holistically with scientific institutions providing feedback on advisories to institutions to enhance information generation.”

The statement mentioned that the possibilities encompass converting scientific information into practical strategies for community resilience. This involves utilizing ocean data to predict impacts, such as the effect of rising sea temperatures on fish catch and developing alternative livelihood strategies.

Furthermore, the statement emphasized the importance of advancing sustainable initiatives within the blue economy. This includes integrating INCOIS’s multi-hazard vulnerability maps with resilience initiatives and rolling out the “Tsunami Ready Villages” program. These efforts aim to proactively protect coastal communities from the impacts of tsunamis.

It elaborated on the need to formulate science-based policies and community initiatives to enhance resilience. This includes crafting educational resources on ocean knowledge and safety for young people in coastal areas, as well as connecting research with real-world strategies for climate resilience.