ELECTRONIC WASTE: A NEW CHALLENGE TO HUMAN RIGHTS

E-waste in India is covered under the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008. The existing hazardous waste rules was primarily drawn up to address issues of waste generated in industrial processes and in inadequate to cover issue specific to e-waste. The Government, after prolonged deliberation issued a guideline for safe management of E-waste in the country. While the guideline was a welcome step. It did not provide the requisite drivers for changing the ground situation. ‘Stakeholders’ discussions suggested that a mandatory regulation specific to E-Waste would be the most desirable way forward. A core group comprising of toxic links, green peace, manufactures association of information technology and GTZ took the lead and drew up draft rules.