The year 2003 was no different to the previous years for RLSS India. They continued the promotion of lifesaving awareness through lifesaving demonstrations and training, first aid and road safety.
Funds were not easy to come by. The most stable source continued to be the Wanawadi pool, where during the summer enough funds are generated to pay for the pool maintenance and staff for the rest of the year and support the RLSSI activities.
The year 2003 was no different to the previous years for RLSS India. They continued the promotion of lifesaving awareness through lifesaving demonstrations and training, first aid and road safety.
Funds were not easy to come by. The most stable source continued to be the Wanawadi pool, where during the summer enough funds are generated to pay for the pool maintenance and staff for the rest of the year and support the RLSSI activities.
The efforts to raise funds from the corporate sector have not been encouraging. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust assistance will end in the middle of this year. The RLSSI requested them to extend their support for another two years.
The Society began the year with six lifesavers travelling to Australia for advanced training in lifesaving and first aid. Heather MacGowan, with her base in Perth steered the event and was very supportive to the Indian trainees. The experience has been most valuable to the participants and the Society.
The Society hosted the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting in Goa in September 2003. Sixty foreign delegates, athletes and 40 volunteers and athletes from Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Aaurangbad and Hyderabad attended the conference. They also participated in the lifesaving Friendship Mini Games organised in the country for the first. The event had a high cost, but at the same time the Society gained a lot from hosting the APRM in India.
Some of the gains were:
¢ Exposure of RLSSI activities in Asia Pacific Region.
¢ Offer of exchange visit between APR countries to further the cause of the society.
¢ Offer of experienced instructors from APR countries to visit India to help in the promotion of RLSSI activities and spread lifesaving awareness.
¢ Appointment of India as ILS Facilitator for South Asia.
¢ Financial help from ILS to promote lifesaving in India and neighbouring countries. RLSSI received 5,000 US$ as aid.
¢ Learning lifesaving championship events in a swimming pool and in the sea. Both promote better knowledge in lifesaving and lifeguarding.
¢ The team received training at the hands two Australian Instructors, who flew in specially with the championship equipment to conduct training first in Pune and then in Goa.
¢ Highlighting the need to institute better lifeguarding on Goa beaches in the light of more than 300 lives being lost in drowning accidents every year.
¢ Getting a commitment from ILS, RLSSC, RLSS Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia to help with the lifesaving movement in the country including lifeguarding of beaches in India.
¢ Surf Life Saving Australia persuaded DHL to give the Society funds for expenses incurred.
The other major promotional events that the Society organised in 2003 was the Endurance Swim Championship held in November/December. They had 8 to 10 year old childern swimming for 1½ hours, 10 to 12 year old childres swimming for 2½, 12 to 14 year old children swimming for 4 hours and adults for 5 hours. The finale was an open water swim over a course of 15 kms on the Kharakwasla lake on 7th December. There were 33 participants this year compared to 63 last year.
This was mainly because they restricted the championship to qualified lifesavers only, in promotion of the concept No Point Being A Great Swimmer If You Cannot Save A Life. Instituted in 2002, the event is getting more popular and they are hoping to attract good swimmers that want to learn lifesaving and participate in the open water lake swim in the years to come.
As per its aims and objectives, the Society presented two Commendations for saving lives and two for meritorious service during the prize distribution function at the end of the event.
They expect this year to be a busy one. Their project aiming at making the beaches safer in Goa is on track. So is the project on community education and road safety along with establishing roadside first aid posts.
The Society has been invited to participate in the lifesaving championships in China in May 2004. Earlier the championships were held in Iran in January, which they could not attend. In September they are expected to attend the ILS meeting in Italy. As the summer approaches they shall begin Pool Inspections in different towns and start with extensive training in swimming and lifesaving for volunteers.