| India is rapidly becoming a developed country in | | | | from very poor background making them more |
| terms of the use of electronic equipments. | | | | vulnerable against the harmful extracts mentioned |
| Computers have become a necessity for each | | | | above. "We get Rs 125 daily. We are not aware |
| and every office, school and bank. Now | | | | of any harmful effects and don't have any health |
| companies are targeting homes of Indians and | | | | problem," told a scrap breaker Wasim Qurrasi. But |
| providing PCs at rates as low as Rs 10,000. But | | | | toxicity of e-scrap works as a silent killer, as Dr M |
| shining development has its dark side, too. In | | | | S Bhati, a local practitioner, indicated, "People |
| other words, India will generate more e-waste | | | | come with problems of TB, asthma and skin |
| (electronic waste) in coming days. According to an | | | | diseases daily. Though they are un-aware of |
| estimate, India will import more than 4 million new | | | | reasons behind these diseases, the fact remains |
| as well as used computers. Yes, it is a fact now | | | | that they are largely caused by their exposure to |
| that India is becoming one of the greatest | | | | wastes they are handling daily." |
| dumping hubs of e-waste with Delhi at its centre. | | | | Toxic Links, a Delhi-based Non Governmental |
| Shastri Nagar and Seelampur in trans-Yamuna | | | | Oraganisation, says that India annually generates $ |
| area are among many other scrap dumping and | | | | 1.5 billion worth of e-waste. Apart from |
| processing grounds in Delhi. These scraps contain | | | | homemade scraps, India imports 80 per cent of |
| Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Mercury and various other | | | | the e-waste generated by the US. A government |
| toxic elements, which have the potential to harm | | | | official 'disclosed' the reason behind unchecked |
| human health and environment. But very few of | | | | import of e-scrap and told 'headlinesindia' off the |
| those involved are aware of any such element | | | | record, "What is e-waste for US is not same for |
| present in the wastes that they are handling daily. | | | | us. In India, it is treated as asset and source of |
| Thus, they don't feel that there is any need of | | | | revenue generation and income." About 25,000 |
| protective gears against toxicity. "It contains only | | | | workers are employed at scrap yards in Delhi |
| iron, copper and plastics. It doesn't have any thing | | | | where 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes of e-scraps are |
| that can affect our health," said Mansoor Ahmad, | | | | being handled every year. Computers account for |
| a scrap dealer of Shsatri Nagar. There were huge | | | | 25 per cent of these scraps; TV screens, CDs, |
| piles of e-scrap and labourers were disintegrating | | | | mobiles, cables, toner cartridges, light bulbs and |
| old computers, bare handedly. Most of them are | | | | tubes are other major contributors. |