Solid Waste Management in Assam

                       

What is solid waste?

 

From ancient time, waste has remained an inseparable part of the human society. The rapid population growth, growing urbanization and proliferation of slums are all contributing to the generation of an ever increasing volume of garbage. The increasing pile of garbage has created health hazard and environmental problem.

Types of solid waste:

Solid waste can be classified into different types depending on their source:

Household waste is generally classified as municipal waste,

Industrial waste as hazardous waste, and

Biomedical waste or hospital waste as infectious waste.

Problem of Solid Waste and its Management

Pressure of population on cites of Assam has become an area of concern not only for local civic authorities and State Government, but for Central Government as well. Accumulation of waste and its disposal is a major worry for authorities in Assam. The only way to tackle this situation is through a concerted and dedicated effort involving government departments, environment protection bodies, NGOs, and local residents.

Let us take the example of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. City of Guwahati with more than 820,000 inhabitants generates more than 300 metric tonnes of MSW (municipal solid waste) per year. GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) in an effort to collect, transport, and dispose this MSW from Guwahati city and its periphery is in the process of appointing a suitable developer or operator for establishing an environmentally sustainable and viable waste management system.

With a view to improve solid waste management, GMC has got an approval for a grant amount of approximately Rs 3,517 lakhs under JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) scheme. This is a National scheme promoted by Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. For effectuating this project, IDCAL (Infrastructure Development Corporation of Assam Limited) has been appointed project management consultant by GMC. IDCAL incidentally is a joint venture between GMDA (Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority) and IL&FS, a leading company engaged in infrastructure development in India.

Existing solid waste management in Guwahati is not large unorganized. Indiscriminate dumping of wastes, clogging of sewerages, and silting of Bharalu River are major worries of GMC. Bharalu operates as the biggest sewage canal of this city and carries waste to River Brahmaputra. Silting of this river leads to major drainage problem for the entire city particularly during the rainy season. Low lying areas, near Bhangagarh and Rajgarh get flooded after heavy showers.

Guwahati Municipality is making every effort to improve waste management system of this city. Appointment of IDCAL by GMC is a positive step towards more efficient MSW management for the city of Guwahati. The process involved in Municipal solid waste management: MSW management involves collection, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of solid wastes for Guwahati city. An estimated 350 tonnes of solid waste would be processed per day as per this project. Waste collection includes street sweeping, cleaning of sewerages, and door-to-door collection of solid wastes. This waste is accumulated in secondary collection units and subsequently transported to project sites.

Measures to control Solid Waste

Home is the nearest place from where solid waste management can be initiated. Garden is the perfect place for waste management. Using of compost, choosing the correct mower for lawn are positive steps towards better management of household wasters.

Hazardous waste, however, is to be treated with caution. They should be disposed in specially marked containers and kept aside away from the reach of kids and pets. They should only be disposed by hazardous material removal agencies.

Office is another place where one can employ waste management techniques. Recycling of office paper, beverage containers, and newspapers are such processes.

For conservation of resources, it is always advisable to use two sided printed materials, recycled printer cartridges, and recycled products. While buying electronic items, it is desirable to enter into a leasing plan where terms of recycling and reuse are mentioned categorically. Unused food items and leftovers are ideally donated to food banks or the homeless.

1.     Setting up a community program is an encouraging step towards creating a more concerned and knowledgeable neighborhood. Such action groups are actually very helpful is making a community aware of the benefits of proper MSW management techniques.

2.    All family should arrange two dustbins labeled as degradable and non-degradable. The degradable wastes can be assimilated at home by putting them under soil. It also will provide organic fertilizer in future. The non- degradable wastes should be allowed the authority to send for recycling.

3.    Householders should refrain from throwing garbage as per their convenience. There should be a specific time for throwing garbage out. If possible, local civic authorities should ensure collection of garbage from every house at this specified time.

Conclusion    

Of all these waste management techniques, if only a small part could be implemented in the cities of Assam, the Assam would become a much better place to stay. The greatest advantage of Assam is its marvelous landscape consisting of River Brahmaputra and several hills. A focussed effort towards solid waste management and protection of environment from all sections of the local populace could make Assam greener and fresher state. Keeping roads garbage free is a positive step towards making this city tidier and healthier.

Taxation In Developing Countries

Taxation is the only practical means of raising the revenue to finance the govt spending in developing countries. Setting up an efficient and fair tax system is however not simple particularly for developing countries that want to become integrated in the international economy.

The ideal tax system in developing countries should raise essential revenue without excessive govt borrowing and should do so without discouraging economic activities and without deviating too much from the tax system in other countries.

CHALLENGES FOR ESTABLISHING AN EFFICIENT TAX SYSTEM

Developing countries face many challenges when they attempt to establish efficient tax system.

1.       Firstly most workers in developing countries are typically employed in agriculture or in small informal enterprises. As they don’t get a fixed wage, income tax can’t be imposed.

2.       Secondly, due to the lack of well educated and trained staff, it is not easy to create an efficient tax administration in developing countries.

3.       Thirdly, because of the informal structure of economy it is difficult to generate reliable statistics as a result of which tax policies become less effective.

4.       Fourthly The existence of black money is much higher in these countries and many people attempt tax evasion.

5.     Lastly, A great portion of the population in developing countries is illiterate. They don’t understand the importance of tax system.

Impact Of Immigration In Assam

Introduction: 

 Immigration is a natural process. Due to many reason., people immigrate from one place to another. But in Assam immigration has been emerging serious burning problem. Its impacts are seen in all fields- political, social, economic etc. and etc.

Both long term and short term impacts are seen in an economy as a result of immigration. Widespread impacts are observed in political, economic and social life of Assam due to illegal immigration from foreign countries like Bangladesh etc. The following are the major impacts of immigration in Assam economy

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1.       Population explosion   : Population is increasing rapidly as a result if immigration. There were only 32 lakh people in Assam in 1902 and it has increased to 3 cr. in 2011. The population growth rate has been higher in Assam related to the national average.

2.       Too much pressure on land : The rapid population growth as a result of immigration is creating an excessive pressure on land.  In 1921, the density of population per kilometer was only 42 which has increased to 397 in 2011. Per capita land availability is thus declining rapidly. 

3.       Environmental degradation: Too much pressure of population as a result of immigration has been transforming many forest and environmentally sensitive areas into habitat. Deforestation and loss of biodiversity have been increasing rapidly. It has impacted on the weather and climate stability of the region.

4.       Evil Effects on labor market:  Immigration adversely affects the labor markets of the home country. Immigration creates the availability of cheap laborers. As a result, the existing or former home laborers have to leave their jobs or to work at lower wage rate

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5.       Tribal conflicts: The immigrants generally occupy the areas reserved for the tribal people. This illegal occupation leads to tribal conflict and also increases terrorism which Assam has been surviving since its independence.  

6.       Price Rise: Due to illegal immigration, the population is increasing rapidly. But the agriculture products are not increasing at that ratio. As a result, the price of agricultural commodities and other goods are increasing day by day in Assam.

7.       Social problem: The immigrants have some particular religious and linguistic characteristics which differ from the indigenous social structure. This creates social problems. 

8.       Increase in govt. spending: The immigrants result the rise in government spending. They somehow achieve the facilities provided to citizens by the govt. but pay no direct tax.

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ASSAM (অসমৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক বৈশিষ্ট্য )

      ভাৰতবৰ্ষৰ উত্তৰ-পূৰ্ব প্ৰান্তত অৱস্থিত প্ৰাকৃতিক সম্পদেৰে ভৰা অসম এখন গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ ৰাজ্য ৷কিন্তু ৰাজ্যখনৰ অৰ্থনীতি ভাৰতবৰ্ষৰ অন্যান্য ৰাজ্য সমূহতকৈ যথেষ্ট পিছপৰা ৷অসমত যথেষ্ট উন্নতিৰ সম্ভাৱনা থকা সত্বেও সম্পদৰ অপূৰ্ণ ব্যৱহাৰ আৰু দৰিদ্ৰতা থকা বাবে  অসমক এখন অনুন্নত ৰাজ্য বুলি কোৱা হয় ৷ এখন পিছপৰা বা অনুন্নত ৰাজ্য হিচাপে অসমৰ অৰ্থনীতিৰ বিশেষ বৈশিষ্ট্য সমূহ তলত দাঙি ধৰা হ’ল –

     ক) কৃষি নিৰ্ভৰ অৰ্থনীতি :-

                অসমৰ অৰ্থনীতি মূলত: কৃষিভিত্তিক ৷ৰাজ্যখনৰ প্ৰায় 77% জনসংখ্যা কৃষিৰ সৈতে প্ৰত্যক্ষ নাইবা পৰোক্ষভাৱে জড়িত হৈ আছে ৷2005-06 চনত ৰাজ্যখনৰ মুঠ ৰাজ্যিক আয়ৰ প্ৰায় শতকৰা 28.7 ভাগ কৃষিৰ পৰা আহৰিত হৈছিল ৷ অনা কৃষিমূলক জীৱিকাৰ পৰিসৰ প্ৰসাৰিত নোহোৱাৰ ফলশ্ৰুতিতে অসমৰ কৃষিখণ্ডৰ ওপৰত জনসংখ্যাৰ এক গধুৰ বোজা সৃষ্টি হোৱাটো পৰিলক্ষিত হৈছে ৷

      খ) নিম্ন জনমূৰি আয় :-

                 অসমৰ জনসংখ্যাৰ জনমূৰি আয় একেবাৰে নিম্ন ৷প্ৰচলিত মূল্যত 2005-06 চনত অসমৰ জনমূৰি আয় আছিল 18,598 টকা ,যি সময়ত ভাৰতৰ জনমূৰি আয় অসমতকৈ প্ৰায় 7000 টকা বেছি আছিল ৷নিম্ন জনমূৰি আয়ৰ বাবে ৰাজ্যখনত মূলধন গঠন নিম্ন পৰিমাণৰ হোৱাটো পৰিলক্ষিত হয় ৷

       গ) আন্ত:গাঠনিমূলক দূৰ্বলতা :-

                  অসমত আন্ত:গাঠনিমূলক সা-সুবিধাসমূহ সম্পূৰ্ণৰুপে উপলব্ধ নহয় ৷ই ৰাজ্যখনৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক অনগ্ৰসৰতাক বুজায় ৷পৰিবহন ,যোগাযোগ,বৈদ্যুতিকৰণ,ঋণৰ যোগান ইত্যাদিৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত ৰাজ্যখন এতিয়াও পিছপৰি আছে ৷এনে হোৱাৰ ফলত ৰাজ্যখনত উদ্যোগখণ্ডৰ বিকাশ আশাকৰা ধৰণে হোৱা নাই ৷

       ঘ) ৰাজ্যিক আয়ৰ লেহেমীয়া গতি :-

                     যোৱা কিছুবছৰ ধৰি অসমৰ ৰাজ্যিক আয় কিছুপৰিমাণে বৃদ্ধি পাইছে যদিও এই বৃদ্ধিৰ হাৰ মন্থৰ হোৱাটো পৰিলক্ষিত হৈছে ৷মন্থৰ গতিত বৃদ্ধিহোৱা ৰাজ্যিক আয়ৰ বাবে ৰাজ্যখনৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক বিকাশ আৰু উন্নয়ণৰ হাৰো লেহেমীয়া হৈছে ৷ 1972-73 চনত অসমৰ ৰাজ্যিক  আয় আছিল 874 কোটি টকা আৰু 1973-74 চনত ই মাত্ৰ 946 কোটি টকালৈ বৃদ্ধি হয় ৷

       ঙ) মূলধন গঠনৰ নিম্ন নিৰিখ :_

                   মূলধন গঠন নিৰ্ভৰ কৰে সঞ্চয়ৰ ওপৰত আৰু সঞ্চয় নিৰ্ভৰ কৰে জনমূৰি আয়ৰ ওপৰত ৷ কিন্তু অসমৰ জনমূৰি আয় নিম্ন হোৱাৰ বাবে সঞ্চয় কম হয় আৰু ইয়াৰ ফলস্ৰুতিত ৰাজ্যখনৰ মূলধন গঠনৰ হাৰো একেবাৰে কম হোৱা দেখা যায় ৷যাৰ ফলত ৰাজ্যখনত বিনিয়োগৰ হাৰ কম হৈ অৰ্থনৈতিক উন্নয়ণ বাধাগ্ৰস্ত হৈছে ৷

         

What is GDP ? (মুঠ ঘৰুৱা/গৃহ উৎপাদন কি ?)

GDP is an aggregate production  of  final goods and services taking place within the domestic country during a year .

       এখন দেশৰ এটা নিৰ্দিষ্ট বছৰত দেশীয় অৰ্থনীতিৰ ভিতৰত উৎপাদিত চূড়ান্ত দ্ৰব্য আৰু সেৱাৰ মুঠ পৰিমাণকে  মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদন আখ্যা দিয়া হয় ৷ এইক্ষেত্ৰত চূড়ান্ত দ্ৰব্য বুলিলে সেইবিলাক দ্ৰব্যক বুজা যায় যিবিলাক দ্ৰব্য উপভোগৰ বাবে সম্পূৰ্ণ সাজু হৈ পৰে  অৰ্থাৎ যিবিলাক দ্ৰব্যৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত পূনৰ কোনোধৰণৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক মূল্য সংযোজিত নহয় সেইবিলাক দ্ৰব্যই হৈছে চূড়ান্ত দ্ৰব্য ৷এটা কথা উল্লেখযোগ্য যে মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনৰ সম্পূৰ্ণ অংশ গৃহ দেশৰ নাগৰিকৰ হাতলৈ নাযায় ৷ এটা উদাহৰণৰ জৰিয়তে এই কথাটো বুজাত সহায়ক হব –  ধৰা হ’ল ভাৰতবৰ্ষৰ এজন নাগৰিকে ইংলেণ্ডত চাকৰি কৰে আৰু তাৰ বাবদ তেওঁ ইংলেণ্ডৰ পৰা যিমান পৰিশ্ৰমিক লাভ কৰিব সেইখিনি ইংলেণ্ডৰ মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনৰহে অন্তৰ্ভূক্ত হব ৷তাৰ বিপৰীতে ইংলেণ্ডৰ এজন নাগৰিকে ভাৰতবৰ্ষত লাভ কৰা পৰিশ্ৰমিক ভাৰতবৰ্ষৰ মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনৰহে অন্তৰ্ভূক্ত হ’ব ৷মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনৰ লগত শুদ্ধ বৈদেশিক আয় সংযোজন কৰি পোৱা সমষ্টিবাদী অৰ্থনৈতিক চলকটোক মুঠ ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় উৎপাদন আখ্যা দিয়া হয় ৷

What is Real GDP and Nominal GDP ?

    নামমূলক মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদন(Nominal GDP) হৈছে চলিত বজাৰ দামত (current market price) মূল্যায়িত মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদন সেয়েহে নামমূলক মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনত চলিত বছৰত মুদ্ৰাস্ফীতি নাইবা অৱস্ফীতিৰ ফলত হোৱা বজাৰ মূল্যৰ পৰিবৰ্তনক অন্তৰ্ভূক্ত কৰা হয় ৷

   অন্যহাতে এখন দেশৰ বিভিন্ন সময়ৰ মুঠ ঘৰুৱা উৎপাদনৰ তুলনামূলক অধ্যয়ন কৰিবৰ বাবে আমি চলিত বছৰৰ বজাৰ মূল্যৰ উপৰত ভিত্তি কৰি নিৰ্ণয় কৰা মুঠ গৃহ উৎপাদনৰ ওপৰত নিৰ্ভৰ কৰিলে নহ’ব ৷ বিভিন্ন সময়ত দৰস্তৰত হোৱা সালসলনিৰ ফলত এনে সমস্যাৰ সৃষ্টি হয় ৷ গতিকে এনেকুৱা ধৰণৰ তুলনামূলক অধ্যয়নৰ বাবে প্ৰকৃত মুঠ ঘৰুৱা উৎপাদন(Real GDP) ধাৰণাৰ প্ৰয়োজন হয় ৷প্ৰকৃত মুঠ ঘৰুৱা উৎপাদনত দ্ৰব্য আৰ সেৱাসমূহক এক স্থিৰমূল্যত গণনা কৰা হয় ৷ গতিকে প্ৰকৃত মুঠ ঘৰুৱা উৎপাদনক স্থিৰ মূল্যত প্ৰকাশিত মুঠ ঘৰুৱা উৎপাদন বুলি কোৱা হয়