Drishti Marine, Goa government-appointed lifesaving agency, was recently appointed a member of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) organisation, a global certification agency, with more than 130 international lifesaving organisations and federations as its members.
Among the members of the ILS are the UK’s Royal Life Saving Society, US-based American Red Cross and Surf Life Saving Australia and several renowned global organisations. ILS works towards improving water safety, drowning prevention, water rescue, lifesaving and lifeguarding and lifesaving sport.
Karin Obus, ILS Executive Director, has welcomed Marine Drishti and Coastal Foundation, as the latest member of the ILS. The Belgium-headquartered body, Obus said, leads the global effort to reduce injury and death in, on, or around the water.
“Drishti Marine has been at the forefront of saving over 7,000 lives in Goa since 2008. It also has operations in Mumbai. The intervention and rescue operations conducted by our trained personnel, has significantly improved the quality of the tourist experience in the coastal state. We are proud to receive this acceptance in the ILS,” said Navin Awathi, CEO at Drishti Marine.
Appointed by the Government of Goa, Drishti Marine, oversees lifesaving services across 40 beach stretches in Goa with a 450-strong force. Their lifesavers also patrol Dudhsagar waterfalls and Mayem lake as part of their mandate. In Mumbai, a 100-member team monitors six beaches, collaborating closely with Maharashtra Fire Services and Municipal Corporation.
Drishti Marine has pioneered AI integration for beach safety and plans to deploy a ‘Paw Squad’ of trained dogs for rescues. Operational since 2008, the presence of Drishti Marine lifesavers in Goa has resulted in a 99 percent reduction in drowning deaths, despite a surge in tourist arrivals.
