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Electronic waste is considered one of the fastest-growing types of waste produced from electrical and electronic devices, growing by 3-5% a year around the world. The study reports that E-waste generation is 3 times as high as any other waste source. A developing country such as India is the third largest contributor to world's E-waste generation and annually generates about 3.2 million tons of E-waste. Maharashtra a state of India tops with 19% E-waste generation amongst all other states. The legislation for E-waste management in India is evolved and amended several times to improvise E-waste management between years 1986 to 2018. However, the management of E-waste was little improved over the three-year timeframe. Formal sectors are working toward E-waste management. But due to the lack of efficient infrastructure and resources to manage E-waste, informal sectors are evolved in India. 95% of the E-waste generated in India is recycled by informal sectors. Residents living in these areas are at the greater risks to health posed by unsatisfactory activities. On the other hand, E-waste has showed some benefits in construction industry. According to study, the rough aggregate for concrete preparation is insufficient; efforts have been made to substitute E-waste partly with rough aggregates. E-waste has immense potential for use in different industries but cannot be ignored for its effect on the atmosphere, economy and society. This study recommends that the less legislative rigour, which has a significant environmental impact, has caused informal industries to manufacture electronics and electrical appliances (EEE's) from other countries and dump them in India. Thus, strict measures and legislation should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid surge in electronic devices has led to an exponential rise in electronic waste (e-waste), necessitating a robust strategy for its management. The Green Deal, within its overarching vision for sustainability, champions a circular economy and advocates for eco-friendly practices, encompassing e-waste management. In India, where the informal sector dominates e-waste handling, outdated methods and lack of regulation pose environmental and health hazards. This article examines the dichotomy between informal and formal e-waste management, exploring challenges faced by both sectors and proposing a cradle-to-cradle (C2C) model for sustainable collaboration. The aim of the research is to transform e-waste from a problem into an opportunity, envisioning a sustainable future in e-waste management. The research method involves the use of a rigorous approach using critical analysis and a comprehensive literature review to clarify the complexities in the field of electronic waste (e-waste) management. The synthesis of studies, from assessing enablers of e-waste management to evaluating circular economy models, provides valuable insights for stakeholders and policymakers. The study scrutinizes the existing infrastructure, discusses challenges, and proposes a strategic model bridging formal-informal e-waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation serves a steppingstone for re-instigating growth in the indigenous industries of developing countries. One such sector which accounts for one of the largest employment generation opportunity in India is the handicraft sector. The informal sector, which includes handicrafts, has been described by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a part of economic activity characterized by certain features like reliance on local available resources and skills, family ownership, small scale operations, labour intensity, traditional technology, skills generally acquired outside school system, unregulated and competitive markets. This study aims at understanding the challenges the Indian handicraft market is facing and highlighting the current practices adopted to tackle them. The handicraft sector today is faced with a lot of challenges ranging from unorganized marketing and inadequate market information to lack of support mechanism for product development. The study adopts a case-based methodology involving primary sources such as field interviews with the key stakeholders of the industry within North Indian region as well as secondary sources including publicly available information about competitive ventures and government interventions. The hub and spoke model is a significantly popular industry tool for dealing with the problems similar to the ones faced currently by the handicraft industry. A similar model was adopted and its compatibility within our problem statement was evaluated. Findings revolved around the fact that how incorporating a simple hub and spoke based model coupled with appropriate technological intervention could address the identified challenges. It also highlights how exchange of information through a digital marketplace can bring about sustainable change in an otherwise ailing industry. We conclude the paper with the proposal of a hub and spoke model custom-made for the North Indian sector, in an attempt to reinvigorate the regional handicraft business through innovative intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the introduction of startup India and make in India, lots of expectations were raised. Industrial sector was getting new boost to get flourished, when there was a sudden blast in form of demonetization on 8th November 2017. Now after completing one year of demonetization our small scale industry and informal sector of Indian economy are still struggling for survival. Demonetization and hasty implementation of GST have adversely impacted India's economic growth. Both have affected informal sector and small scale sector which are responsible for 40% of GDP. The country has recorded slowest growth in last three years (5.7 % GDP growth during April to June 2017). Withdrawal of 86% of currency plus GST badly affected small scale sectors. Private sector investment has collapsed and economy is running on just one engine of Public spending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study related to workers in the informal sector in India. As part of the study, the author conducted several interviews with labor leaders, government officials, and workers in India. The study focused on seven informal worker organizations in three Indian states. The author found that informal workers in India are organizing in order to improve their living conditions through government-supported benefits. Informal workers in the country are also organizing along class lines.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders have posed a concern on both the individual's health and industries. In India majority of workforce are in the informal economy, also known as unorganised sector in the country. Among the unorganised sector, stone quarry, cutting and polishing units are where a large number of workers are involved and prone to various occupational injuries and health hazards. The present study focuses on occupational health and safety deficiencies in the stone quarry, cutting and polishing industry in North Karnataka. The study was conducted using Nordic Questionnaire, Postural analysis using REBA method and on use of PPEs and other welfare activities. The collected data was analysed statistically. The results indicated prevalence of WRMSDs in both stone quarry workers and stone cutting and polishing workers. The REBA scores showed a significant high risk among majority of workers. Physical work environment factors like noise and heat were also measured, and found to be above the acceptable levels. It is concluded that the working conditions in stone quarries, cutting and polishing units' needs to be improved. The postures adopted by workers are mostly in higher risk categories and need to be changed urgently. The noise levels are above the permissible limits and the use of PPEs should be encouraged. Overall the productivity of these industries can be improved by incorporating the ergonomics and OHS recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hawala is a form of informal banking system in the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle-East. In the aftermath of Sept. 11 attacks there have been calls for closing and/ regulating informal banking systems in Africa, Asia and other parts of the globe for the growing concerns about terrorism funding. There have been some successful efforts to do especially in the African region, but it is nearly impossible to regulate Hawala system in India because of the legitimate socio-economic purposes that it serves. It enjoys extensive public patronage both from Indians in India and those living abroad. It is also a preferred means of money transfer for many corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. Since 1990s, it has become a dirty word, but the business in itself has been flourishing. There have been numerous incidents of the system being abused by organized crime groups and terrorists as well. Despite these abuses Hawala has been decriminalized and brought under the purview of civil law in India. It is due to a number of factors including inadequate banking infrastructure, poor perception of law and order, high levels of political corruption and economic crimes, as well as strong family and community ties that perpetuate use of Hawala. The data for the paper was collected from Hawala operators and customers in Delhi and Punjab in India, law enforcement officers, journal articles and news report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]