The increase in availability of second-hand computers in India has become a matter of concern not just for the trade and commerce sector but also for the environment.
On an average, India generates 25,000 second-hand computers every month and their imports are restricted as per the foreign trade policy. “Second-hand computers can be imported only for charitable and educational purposes but the new draft of e-waste rules restricts even that. So, the only way that was available till now to import these will be closed,” said Vinnie Mehta, executive director, Manufacturers' Association of Information Technology (MAIT).
The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), which comes under the Ministry of Finance, discussed this issue with various stakeholders - educational institutes, NGOs and the environment ministry, among others.
The matter has now been referred to the commerce ministry, which is expected to put curbs and restrictions on import of second hand computers in India. “The cost of computers have come down substantially in comparison to what they used to be. With this, the number of second-hand computers available in India has also gone up, such that there is no need for us to have these imports and become a dumping ground,” a senior official in CEIB told Business Standard.
India imports almost 50,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. It generated 3,30,000 tonnes of e-waste in 2007 and the number is expected to touch 4,70,000 tonnes by 2011, according to a study on e-waste assessment conducted jointly by MAIT and the German government’s sustainable development body GTZ.
Mehta also said that not only the cost of repair is high for second-hand computers which subsequently increases the cost of ownership, but as a knowledge-driven economy, India should not be stuck in time for technology.
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“The desire and need for computers is increasing and many people either import second-hand machines or components that are then assembled here. This is mostly prevalent in small towns and cities. In fact, to avoid this problem, many companies now simultaneously launch their products in India during their global launch,” said Sandeep Aurora, director, sales and marketing, Intel South Asia.
As per the present foreign trade policy, second-hand computers can be imported free of cost as donations to government schools, charitable hospitals, public libraries, on the condition that the goods cannot be used for commercial purpose and are non-transferable.