Circular Economy offers opportunities for even present generation: DST Secretary

NEW DELHI: Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India on Tuesday said that Circular Economy is not only to safeguard future generation but also offers huge opportunities for the present generation.

Speaking at the '3rd Edition of Circular Economy Symposium 2019' organized by FICCI, Prof Sharma said, "Recycling does not only make sense in terms of societal well-being of the future generations but there ought to be good business models that produce opportunities even for the present generation which we are not addressing right now."

Prof Sharma said that the country needs to identify those business models that offers opportunities to the current generation as well. Even the technology, which may have been developed in advanced economies, need to factor in the peculiarities of India.

"Of course, we need to think about the global aspect, but we also need to think about what's unique about India. In every technology that we put up there to develop, we need to factor in the uniqueness of India," added Prof Sharma.

He further said that we have to find the India-centric use of the technologies to deliver goods and services that we cannot deliver today using traditional means. It means meeting the unmet demands of people who have not been reached today.

He highlighted that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has come out with several schemes in the last 4-5 years that encourages sustainable development.

Besides, Prof Sharma said that the data is at least as important as the machine or the algorithm and that the country needs to figure out how to collect and use this raw material.

Anirban Ghosh, Chairman, FICCI Working Group on Circular Economy and Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra said that the symposium aims to enrich the ecosystem of Circular Economy that encompasses research bodies, government, regulators, industry and the people.

Senior officials of ACC Ltd, Dell International Services India Pvt Ltd, Ecoware Solutions Pvt Ltd, Saahas, Govardhan Ecovillage, Kabadiwala Connect Pvt Ltd, Rapidue Technologies Pvt Ltd, Geetanjali Woollens Pvt Ltd and Recykal, winners and runners-up of India Circular Economy Award also gave presentations of their unique product and processes that follow the spirit of Circular Economy.