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The Energy Research Institute is responsible for kick-starting a program that lays out organizational procedures for E-waste recycling in partnership with various non-governmental organizations, independent bodies and governmental bodies, including the
Indian Ministry of Environment & Forests as well as the Central Pollution Control Board. The existing provisions and initiatives of Indian government are not sufficient to curb the menace of e-waste in India. India needs to consider this issue seriously and must enact laws in conformity with the requirements of the present society. Harmonization of the issues of ecology and a developmental need of the society is need of the hour. On one hand, we must encash the benefits of information technology, whereas on the other hand, we must have in place a strong and safe E-waste disposal and management system in India. Ignoring either of them is not a wise option.

India must concentrate upon the model of 'sustainable development' where the conflicting interests of societal development and environmental degradation are reconciled for the common betterment of the society. No doubt, the task is difficult, but the need of E-waste regulation and management in India is more pressing. Therefore, all our actions should be guided by sustainable development principle which has been very aptly defined in the World Commission on Environment & Development (WCED) Report commonly known as Brundtland Report of 1987 as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.

The imperatives of the scenario demand that the Government should promulgate an all-embracing national E-waste management law, and an all-encompassing policy thereunder, for substituting the existing Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2003. Initiate the process for complete national level assessment, covering all the cities and all the sectors. Such baseline study must envelope inventories, existing technical and policy measures required for emergence of national E-waste policy / strategy and action plan for eco-friendly, economic E-waste management. The study should also culminate in identifying potentially harmful substances and testing them for adverse health and environmental effects for suggesting precautionary measures.

Create a public-private participatory forum of decision making, problem resolution in E-waste management comprising Regulatory Agencies, NGOs, Industry Associations, experts, etc., to keep pace with the temporal and spatial changes in structure and content of E-waste. Create knowledge data base on end of useful life determination, anticipating the risks, ways of preventing and protecting from likely damage and safe and timely disposal of E-waste.

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Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth started his career as Lecturer at Post Graduate Dept. of Economics, Government College, Gurdaspur, and later at Khalsa College; Amritsar, specializes in Quantitative & Development Economics. Has the distinction of serving Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana, for more than 2 decades and remained Director-Principal of Saint Soldier Management & Technical Institute, Jalandhar. Currently, heading GAD Institute of Development Studies, Amritsar, a self-financed research institute. Has been honoured with various awards, including Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award, etc.
Article posted on February 22, 2009.