It is time for an invigorating road map to turn waste into India’s big opportunity.
This is a complex and politically fraught issue anywhere in the world, and nowhere more so than in India. However my experiences of the years have taught me that if there is a resolve to act, then every complex issue invariably has a simple set of solutions available. However, a systematic and time-bound approach is crucial to achieving any goal and the same applies to Prime Minister Modi led government’s grand Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India programme).
A well-structured and sustainable Waste Management system would be a catalyst for improved public health and reduce the burden on the public purse. An effective strategy can eventually also be the driving force behind India emerging as a key player in the $1-trillion global circular economy, fuelling jobs and growth.
Within this broad context, the Clean India mission very evidently at the heart of Prime Minister Modi’s “sabka saath, sabka vikaas” (development for all) agenda. The focus now has to be on harnessing the very best expertise and innovation from overseas as well as the domestic private sector to improve the quality of lives of hundreds of millions of Indians. At the core lies an uncomfortable truth with the ‘coalface’ of waste management – the scavenger hunters – who should well and truly be consigned to the annals of history as Waste Management is brought up to speed with the 21st century.
India Inc.’s recent conclave is historic in its own right as we came together with a shared passion – a passion to identify opportunities where the private sector can plug in to create a sustainable future for each and every Indian citizen. Hon. Minister Nitin Gadkari was our Chief Guest and helped articulate the central role of Swacch Bharat and the government’s vision to deliver inclusive development while propelling India towards a better economic future.
Hon. Minister Prakash Javadekar, who will lay out the government’s official plans on Waste Management later this month, shared some of those insights from the perspective of India’s rejuvenated Environment Ministry.
To para-phrase a famous quote, ‘ask what we can do for the country’ and the Conclave was aimed at building a true partnership between citizen, business, and the public sector in the field of Waste Management.
India Inc. has always valued the India-EU partnership, as reflected in our Brussels summit earlier this year, and it is heartening to see that those ties continue to blossom with Commissioner Karmenu Vella joining in.
We value the role the EU is keen to play in India’s growth story and want to build on this enduring partnership with the European Commission.
Manoj Ladwa is the founder of India Inc. and chief executive of MLS Chase Group @manojladwa
