PU unveiled first of its kind training facility on dismantling of E-waste in country 

Chandigarh, August 9, 2022: Panjab University, Chandigarh today unveiled the first of its kind training facility on dismantling of E-waste in the country today. Inaugurated by the VC, Shri Raj Kumar, the facility has been developed under the MeitY sponsored project ‘Capacity Building through Skill and Entrepreneurship Development on E-waste Management’. Targeted at formalising the informal sector the project aims to build capacities of 300 informal actors across the states of Punjab, Himachal

Pradesh, Haryana and the UT of Chandigarh on environmentally sound management of e-waste. 
Speaking at the inaugural Raj Kumar stated that awareness and capacity building are key areas where stakeholders need to work with a greater zeal to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste. He mentioned that the university will have a sustainable plan to ensure that the infrastructure established will be used to train and develop more Human Resource in this area. 

Dr Sandip Chatterjee, Director and Scientist F, ministry of electronics and information technology, government of India mentioned that the government is ensuring that research and development of new technology is also followed up with end of life management of products and materials so that a circular economy framework can be established in the true essence in the country. N K Mahapatra, former CEO of the electronics sector skill council of India in his address at the seminar organised by the UIET department said that the country needs more such programmes which have the potential for high scale employment generation and also ensure a sustainable future. ALN Rao and Shri Ashok Kumar, from Exigo recycling and greenscape Eco management, large scale E-waste recyclers in India mentioned that the programme allows them as formal players to get access to trained resources which are difficult to access in this sector. Kalyan Bhaskar, associate professor at XLRI, Jamshedpur mentioned that the project offers immense scope for generation of employment while ensuring establishment of a circular economy. 

Surendra Gotherwal, Joint Director at the ministry of electronics and Information technology, government of India mentioned that the government wants to ensure that formalisation of the informal sector through skill and capacity building can be scaled up through such initiatives which can ensure that the sector is able to contribute to the economy at a large scale. Shri Vishal sharma, assistant professor at Panjab University, outlined the achievements that the project has been able to meet till date and the mapping of informal actors across the states. 

The project is likely to give a boost to the low levels of formal E-waste management in the country and contribute towards different SDGs. The seminar concluded with students and faculty s eking advise from the esteemed panelist’s on their roles and responsibilities to ensure environmentally sound management of -waste.