Environment Protection through Recycling and Renewables (Indian Context)

Abstract

Jagadish Chandra Mahanti

Large scale migration of people from rural areas (villages) to cities is creating Socio – economic problems in both the places including environmental degradation. Major contribution is from inadequate garbage removal system and indiscrete use of fossil fuels. Typical examples are cities Delhi and Bangalore.

Setting up suitable industries in rural locations will reduce migration of rural population to cities and reduce the environmental pollution there. Besides agro based industries, recycling of used packaging to produce new products has been suggested in this article due to growing consumption of the same, availability of raw material from waste collection, as well as, other pertinent aspects including economic, social and other benefits. Also, by collection and recycling discarded packaging, the volume of garbage and hence environmental pollution will be reduced.

The benefits and necessity of replacing fossil fuels by renewable sources like Solar and biofuels has also been discussed.

The industries will provide “on the job “training to the local population and contribute to skill development. This will be of help in operating and maintaining modern farm machinery and equipment. Also, as part of their social responsibility, the units will contribute to development of the locality by promoting hygiene, education, sports and cultural activities, providing clean drinking water etc.

Mahatma Gandhi’s idea to develop the Indian society was based on his understanding of the rural society and hence based on the village system. Talking about the importance of village, he wrote in 1936, “I would say if the village perishes, India will perish too. It will be no more India” which is more relevant today than it was at his time.

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