Solutions
to Environmental Crisis
By Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia | @drlalitsetia | drlalitsetia@gmail.com
In ancient times, every
person was so sensitive to create any waste and the waste created by any family
was usually used inside the home and there was no waste contributed to the
society. In scriptures, the solution of environmental crisis is well described.
With the advancement, the cultural values diminished and now-a-days, everywhere
the management of waste became a major problem leading the environmental
crisis. People in metro cities started to purchase Oxygen cylinders to get rid
of polluted air. Can it be a solution? What should be done to solve the problem
permanently? What Government can do and what each person on this earth can do?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Reform (4 Rs)
The government as well as
citizens should reduce the waste by being sensitive in using the products. The
life-style should be improved in such a way that the waste can be minimized
significantly. In scriptures, it is written that a house should use its waste
inside so that it cannot put burden on the other persons outside the house. The
waste water from washing clothes can be purified and used for the plants’
growth; an example of the same can be seen at Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa located
in India. The waste from kitchen if consumable should be provided directly to
feed the animals. The waste from kitchen and dressing room which can be reused
should be reused by using the skills of art and craft. It can also improve the
income of the family.
In case, the waste cannot
be reused, it should be properly thrown inside the green or blue dustbins as
per the directions of Government so that the waste can easily be recycled by
using the approach of Solid Waste Management (SWM).
Funding Solid Waste Management Factories:
There is huge
unemployment around the world, particularly in developing and underdeveloped
countries. The Government can provide funds for setting up factories for solid
waste management at large level, it will boost the employment and also solve
the environmental crisis. In most of the developed nations, there are
environmental inspectors, entrusted to ensure the green environment in various
areas of the countries. They are empowered to impose fines and penalty for
misuse of natural resources. In India, this role is played by municipal
organization at local level.
To reform the SWM sector,
it is must to provide enough funds for setting up factories at local level so
that the waste can easily be recycled everywhere. The licenses should be given
to the organizations for converting waste into finished products so that the
waste can also be a medium of economic progress of the nation.
Opportunity to set up Micro-factories to generate employment:
Now-a-days, the waste of
cities disposed-off in the fields of villagers and the agricultural activities
are also polluted due to such illegal disposing of the waste. It is required to
set up micro factories at local level in each city. The micro-factories can
manage the solid waste and there will be no need to cover huge distances to
carry the waste from one location to another. The waste from domestic as well
as industries which usually cover several types of plastic, glass, furniture,
paper can easily be recycled in the micro factories and produce finished
products. Setting up micro-factories will generate a lot of employment. The
entrepreneurs should be provided enough funds to move in this area and change
the whole picture of the nation.
Once the micro-factories
are set up, the finished products should be sold with the support from the
government. The government should not impose taxes upon the products
manufactured in micro-factories so that their sales can easily be increased at
affordable prices. It will lead to a permanent solution to the environmental
crisis.
Work from Home (an option for Energy Efficiency):
The Multinational Companies (MNCs) have already opted to provide employment on "Work from Home" basis as it saves their infrastructure, time, money, and other resources. It also solve the problem of environmental pollution as the number of natural resources are utilized efficiently. The energy efficiency is the key to sort out the problem of pollution.
