The Right to Repair in India: Valuing the Tacit Knowledge of the Informal Economy
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Environment (E-Waste Management Rules, Extended Producer Responsibility - EPR, Circular Economy, Mission LiFE), Indian Economy (Informal Sector), Governance (Right to Repair, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana - PMKVY, e-Shram).
Mains:
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment; Science and Technology- developments and their applications; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
GS Paper 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections.
GS Paper 1: Social empowerment.
Key Highlights from the News
The 'Right to Repair' is strengthening in India to facilitate easier product repairs. As part of this, the government has approved a 'Repairability Index' for mobile phones and other devices.
However, the article argues that these policies do not adequately consider the country's large informal repair economy and their knowledge when formulating policies.
Workers in this sector possess unique knowledge gained through observation, listening, and practice, rather than formal training. This is referred to as tacit knowledge.
Products designed to break quickly (planned obsolescence) and the 'buy, use, throw' culture among consumers are destroying this informal sector.
E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 emphasize recycling more than reuse.
Skill development schemes like PMKVY do not acknowledge the specific skills of this sector.
The article concludes that India can achieve a truly circular economy only by recognizing informal repair workers, providing them social security, and preserving their knowledge.
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