Drowning cases ko kam karne ke liye New Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 release ho gayi hai. Isme bachchon ki swimming skills badhane, local water safety plans banane aur behtar coordination ki demand ki gayi hai.
Is summer season mein paani ke aas-paas situation bahot devastating rahi, 1 December ke baad se 33 se jada log drowning ki wajah se apni jaan gawa chuke hain. Yeh tab ho raha hai jab 2023/24 aur 2024/25 dono saalon mein drowning se 300 se jada deaths report hui hain.
COVID-19 pandemic ke baad drowning ke cases lagatar badh rahe hain. Iske pichhe reason hain — swimming aur water safety skills ka girna, logon ke recreational behaviour mein badlaav, population growth — especially un logon mein jo un deshon se aate hain jahan water safety awareness kam hai aur jada garam aur unstable climate hai.
Increasing drowning cases ke jawab mein, Australian Water Safety Council ne ek updated Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 release ki hai, jiska aim decade ke end tak drowning deaths ko 50% tak reduce karna hai. Yeh target pahli baar 2020 mein set kiya gaya tha, jab last 2 decades se drowning deaths dheere-dheere kam ho rahi thi. Strategy mein 3 National Imperatives bataye gaye hain jisse recent trend ko reverse kiya ja sake:
1Sabke liye swimming aur water safety skills ko boost karna
2 Local level par water safety efforts ko mazboot banana
3 Alag-alag sectors aur jurisdictions ke beech coordination ko strong karna
Australian Water Safety Council Convenor aur Royal Life Saving Australia ke CEO, Dr Justin Scarr ne kaha ki yeh Strategy Australia mein water safety ke liye ek critical moment hai.
“Drowning abhi bhi unacceptable level par hai, especially summers ke dauran,” Dr Scarr ne kaha.
“Strategy yeh recognise karti hai ki water safety ki shuruaat swimming seekhne se hoti hai, aur kai effective solutions local communities se hi aate hain. Yeh governments ko appeal karti hai ki woh un cheezon par jada focus karein jo proven hain –
swimming aur water safety skills improve karna,
local water safety plans banana,
aur ek-dusre ke saath behtar coordination karna,” Dr Scarr ne kaha.
Extensive consultation ke through develop ki gayi yeh Strategy ek clear aur evidence-based roadmap deti hai jo government ke har level, water safety organisations aur community partners ko guide karegi.
Surf Life Saving Australia ke CEO Adam Weir ne Strategy ka welcome kiya aur kaha ki place-based solutions bahot important hain.
“Strategy ne highlight kiya hai ki beaches abhi bhi drowning ke liye high-risk locations hain. Is summer, saari coastal drowning fatalities patrolled areas ke bahar hui hain, jo dikhata hai ki unpatrolled beaches par swim karna kitna bada risk hai.”
“Government aur water safety sector ke saath milkar kaam karke hum community reach badha sakte hain, water safety skills ko mazboot bana sakte hain aur targeted strategies implement kar sakte hain taaki coastline par aane wale logon ki protection ho — especially remote areas aur unpatrolled beaches par.”
Strategy ka swagat Hon Anika Wells MP, Minister for Communications aur Minister for Sport ne bhi kiya hai. “Australians paani mein waqt guzarna jaante hain, lekin pichle ek saal mein drowning deaths mein badi increase ke baad, water safety ko priority dena sabse jada jaruri ho gaya hai.”
“Main updated Australian Water Safety Strategy ka swagat karti hun jo 2030 tak drowning deaths ko half karne ka goal reaffirm karti hai. Yeh ek bold aur essential national target hai jise humari government poori tarah support karti hai.”
“Water safety ek shared responsibility hai, aur main sabhi logon ko encourage karti hun ki woh aise kadam uthayein jisse hum sab apne khubsurat beaches aur waterways ko safely enjoy kar saken,” Minister Wells ne kaha.
Yeh Strategy extensive consultations ke baad banayi gayi hai, jisme 2025 National Water Safety Summit bhi shamil tha, aur yeh clear priorities set karti hai.
Isme yeh highlight kiya gaya hai:
- 0–4 saal ke bachhon ki drowning rate abhi bhi bahot jada hai – har saal average 14 deaths – jo pool fencing, active supervision aur early intervention ki importance ko underline karta hai.
- 15–29 saal ke young males drowning deaths mein abhi bhi jada represent hote hain, jahan alcohol, risk lene ki aadat aur peer pressure key factors hain. In sabhi areas mein targeted education aur communication ki jarurat hai.
- 65 saal aur usse jada age ke older adults mein fatal drowning ke cases mein increment dekhi ja rahi hai, jiska link medical conditions, physical ability me change, aur aquatic recreation mein badhte participation se hai.
- Beaches, rivers aur lakes mein drowning deaths ka ek large proportion darj kiya gaya hai, jo coordinated lifesaving systems aur improved risk management ki need ko majbooti se darshata hai.
Yeh Strategy Aboriginal aur Torres Strait Islander logon, multicultural communities, regional and remote areas me rahne wale logon, people with disability aur socialy and economically pichhde vargon ke prati apni commitment ko phir se dridhta se vyakt karti hai.
Australian Water Safety Council ne government, industry, community organisations aur public se anurodh kiya hai ki wo Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 ke saath ekjut hon. Next 5 years mein coordinated action atyant aavashyak hogi, taaki 2030 tak drowning deaths ko aadha karne ke goal ko achieve kiya ja sake.
