The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had initiated the project “Awareness Programme on Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste” on 31st March 2015. This project was under the “Digital India” Initiative of the Government of India. The project expected to have far reaching and significant impact on the growth of the country as it focuses on reuse and recycling of e-waste, which has the potential to conserve natural resources.

The primary focus of this project was to create awareness among different stakeholders in order to reduce the adverse impact on environment and health due to improper disposal of e-waste. Ten cities were identified and Goa was one of them.

MeitY in partnership with NASSCOM foundation, MAIT and CEAMA with the support of Communicare Trust created a programme specifically for Goa.

The project also emphasized on the responsibilities of the producers and conveyed the message that they must inculcate the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and follow the mechanism for channelization of e-waste from “end of life” products to registered dismantlers or recyclers.

The first initiative was a workshop for the primary north and south teachers during the month of April. The presentation included introducing the teachers to e-waste and related aspects such as consumerism leading to exponential rise in e-waste, working of a kabadiwala and about streamlining the process of waste generation, collection and disposal.  There was also a poster competition with the topic “Eradicating the e-waste monster” for teachers and students and the top 3 posters were awarded a prize.

Thereafter there was an awareness presentation for all 13 Municipal Councils of Goa, that was organized by The Goa State Urban Development Agency, where the applications of e-waste rules was emphasized. 

Many such events were organized during a course of 3 months which included talks, street plays, interactive sessions with store owners, organizing E-waste collection centers.