India’s geography has so much to offer that many people are venturing out to savour its bounty.At the same time, India is precariously placed geographically. Most of the country lies in highly sensitive zones that are frequent hosts to the fury of Nature. Natural disasters visit the region with frightening regularity, often leading to loss of lives.

I have a fascination for the outdoors and love being out in Nature. However, we are mostly city-dwellers and the world in the wilderness can throw up many surprises. Nature and the outdoors can be a wonderfully rejuvenating place, and yet, a very unforgiving place. Also, India lies in a sensitive ecological zone with natural disasters visiting every year, with almost frightening reality. And largely, people are just not prepared to face a calamity, whether a natural disaster, or an adventure gone bad. There are many ways to get injured or to get lost. and it can rear its ugly head in a heartbeat. A wrong turn on the trail could lead a hiker to get lost. Earthquakes and floods and landslides and other such disasters mean that home and hearth and probably even means of refuge and livelihood are lost. It is important to be prepared, trained and equipped to face such situations.

This realisation gave me the incentive to start OTA Survival School, India’s first organisation focussed on preparing, training and equipping people in survival and self-reliance.

The more we carry in our heads, the less we will need to carry on our back.

India has 1.3 billion citizens and ideally, most of them need to be trained to take personal responsibility for their own safety during a disaster. Being prepared is the first defense in a survival situation. Chances of getting into a serious survival situation diminishes with increased knowledge, since one knows the procedures to be followed. That is what we at OTA Survival School are focussed on. We hope that we go out of business soon, with most people prepared, trained and equipped. Till then, our humble effort continues.