Mumbai: Kerala, blessed with a dense network of water bodies — countless ponds, rivers, lakes, and beaches — has always had its people’s lives intricately tied to water. Yet ironically, a large number of Keralites, especially children, lack basic swimming skills. This gap has had tragic consequences: according to studies, nearly 1,000 people drown every year in the state, far exceeding the national average.

To address this alarming issue, a unique mission called “Swim Kerala, Swim” has been launched by S.P. Muraleedharan, an international long-distance swimmer and swimming trainer. His goal is simple but profound — to equip children with life-saving swimming skills and prevent needless deaths.
Muraleedharan’s own story is one of determination and transformation. He learned to swim at the age of 23 out of job necessity. But what began as a skill soon turned into a passion. He went on to become a well-known adventure swimmer in Kerala and made history by becoming the first Malayali to swim across the Palk Strait — a 35 km stretch from Sri Lanka to India — in just 14 hours.

Swimming- a vital life skill

Now, through the “Swim Kerala, Swim” project, Muraleedharan aims to pass on these vital skills to children aged 10 and above. The programme teaches basic survival and rescue techniques, including 25-metre freestyle swimming, floating for 6 to 8 minutes, breath control, and how to assist someone who is drowning.

The initiative is being run by the Milestone Swimming Promoting Charitable Society, and its impact is already visible. In the first two editions, training was conducted for 275 students in Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts. The third edition is currently underway in Vaikom, Kottayam, where 136 children are learning to swim. Remarkably, all the training is provided free of cost. The Vaikom phase is supported by FOKANA (Federation of Kerala Associations in North America) and promoted by the Vaikom Municipality. The course runs for 22 days, with one-hour sessions held daily.

Muraleedharan believes that swimming is not just a safety skill, but an essential life skill. “The ability to swim doesn’t just help prevent drowning — it strengthens the entire body, improves lung capacity, enhances immunity, and reduces stress,” he says. “It is one of the few exercises that engages all parts of the body with minimal strain on the bones.”

With a vision to expand the programme to all districts across Kerala, “Swim Kerala, Swim” is not just a training mission — it is a movement to make the state’s youth safer, stronger, and more confident in the water that surrounds them.

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