JOIN USChildren handle e-waste in City: Report
Bangalore generates around 57,000 metric tonnes (MT) of electronic waste annually.
Furthermore, segregation of e-waste in the unorganised sector is handled by children aged between 10 and 14 years, says a report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
The report, Electronic Waste Management in India, released as part of World Earth Day on April 22, said India generates around 12.5 lakh MT of electronic waste annually, growing at the rate of 25 per cent.
Mumbai generates 96,000 MT, the highest. Delhi-NCR ranks second with 67,000 MT, Bangalore, third with 57,000 MT. Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune generate 47,000, 35,000, 26,000, 25,000 and 19,000 MT of e-waste respectively, annually.
According to Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat, there are over 4.5 lakh child labourers engaged in informal sector, to dismantle e-waste.
There is a need for effective legislation to deter children from collection, segregation and distribution of e-waste.
Around 95 per cent of e-waste is handled by unorganised sector in India, he added.
Computer waste accounts for 68 per cent, telecommunication equipment waste 12 per cent, electric equipment 8 per cent, medical equipment 7 per cent and household e-scrap
5 per cent.
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairperson Vaman Acharya said there is no involvement of children in Bangalore.
However, there could be some unorganised sectors, around Nayandahalli, which need to be checked.
Labour Department Commissioner N Prakash said they have been checking for child labour. “I accept there are problems in India. If people have details, they should share them with us.”
DH News Service