NIDAN organised the Jan convention at the Press Club of India on January 31, 2025, addressing the growing air pollution crisis in Delhi. Key discussions focused on the major contributors to pollution, including coal plants, diesel vehicles, garbage burning, and road dust. Experts highlighted that 25% of Delhi’s pollution is caused by vehicles, especially diesel SUVs, yet regulations to curb this remain poorly enforced. It was also noted that while stubble burning is often blamed, it contributes far less to the pollution compared to other factors.
Arbind Singh, Executive Director of Nidan, emphasized the importance of collective action, stating, “This is a matter of life and death. Everyone generates waste but avoids the responsibility of managing it.” He stressed the need for a comprehensive policy approach, pushing for decentralized waste management solutions involving waste pickers, and better implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), where less than 40% of allocated funds have been utilized. He called for more rigorous waste management practices, better integration of waste pickers, and greater accountability from both government and private sectors in waste processing and recycling.
Arbind Singh further pointed out the failure of waste-to-energy plants, such as those in Lucknow, which only collect waste but do not offer long-term solutions. He stressed that social inclusion of waste pickers in policy planning is crucial to improving waste management efficiency. The convention concluded with a call for immediate, holistic policy intervention and for all sectors to work together to address pollution and waste management in Delhi.
