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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across...

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across the entire nation. The recent electoral outcomes have fundamentally rewritten the established rules of Indian democracy. From a massive anti-incumbency wave overturning fifteen years of rule in Bengal, to a political novice shattering a six-decade Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress-led alliance successfully dislodging the incumbent Left in Kerala, the electorate has delivered a highly decisive mandate. Alongside sweeping consolidations of power in Assam and Puducherry, these results collectively disrupt historical traditions and reshape the national political landscape for years to come. Titan Toppled In West Bengal, the call for Poribartan finally resonated with enough force to bring down a formidable political fortress. A relentless anti-incumbency wave has overturned Mamata Banerjee’s fifteen-year rule. For a decade and a half, the Trinamool Congress maintained an iron grip on the state’s narrative, having previously ousted the Left Front on the very same promise of sweeping change. The defeat of the incumbent government signifies a monumental shift in the political psychology of Bengal. The electorate, driven by an urgent desire for a new direction, has dismantled a deeply entrenched political machine. This result forces a complete recalibration of power dynamics in eastern India, leaving a massive political vacuum that victorious forces will now rush to fill, fundamentally altering the governance trajectory of the state. Duopoly Shattered Equally seismic is the political earthquake that has struck Tamil Nadu. For six decades, the state’s political arena was fiercely guarded by a seemingly unbreakable Dravidian duopoly, with power alternating predictably between established giants. However, the emergence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by cinema icon Thalapathy Vijay, has dismantled this historical dominance. By emerging as the single-largest party in the assembly count, the TVK has achieved what generations of politicians deemed impossible. This is not merely a change in government but a profound cultural and political revolution. The voters of Tamil Nadu have overwhelmingly opted for a fresh narrative, proving that star power coupled with an untested political promise can still upend deeply rooted ideological empires, ushering in an entirely new era of leadership. Absolute Dominance Meanwhile, the political landscape in the Northeast has witnessed a different kind of decisive mandate. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not only retained power but has emerged significantly stronger, securing a third consecutive term. This victory effectively cements an aggressive regional hegemony and signals the near-total ouster of the Congress party from Assam’s mainstream politics. The result brings an ironclad continuity to the state, allowing the incumbent administration to push forward its agenda without any formidable legislative friction, while leaving the state’s oldest party desperately searching for political relevance. Pendulum Swings In Kerala, the electorate has delivered a decisive blow to the incumbent Left Democratic Front. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has successfully dislodged the government, claiming a vital victory in a state renowned for its fiercely contested, oscillating elections. This resurgence of the UDF injects critical new life into the state’s Congress machinery, drastically altering the governance model in Kerala. The outcome firmly proves that the traditional pendulum of Kerala politics still possesses the momentum to swing back fiercely against the incumbent, denying the Left a continued and uninterrupted grip on power. Comfortable Continuity Further down the coast in Puducherry, the mandate favored stability within a rapidly changing national map. The National Democratic Alliance government, led by the AINRC, comfortably secured its return to power. This victory ensures that the NDA maintains a crucial administrative foothold in the southern union territory, providing a steady anchor for its regional allies amid the broader national churn. When viewed collectively, these independent state results weave a complex tapestry that will inevitably reshape national politics. The fall of towering regional satraps in West Bengal and the disruption of the historic Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu indicate a national electorate that is deeply restless and entirely unafraid to discard legacy systems. For the national opposition, the revival in Kerala offers a much-needed glimmer of hope, though it is heavily overshadowed by the existential crisis they face in Assam. The spectacular rise of new regional entities introduces a fresh, highly unpredictable variable into the national coalition arithmetic ahead of future general elections. Ultimately, the political center of gravity has fundamentally shifted, proving that “Poribartan” is no longer just a localized slogan, but the defining new reality of the country.

From Pickup to Protocols: The Operator’s Critical Role in Public Health

From installing incinerators to logging every gram of waste, the Operator stands between public health and potential harm.

In the previous article, we examined the crucial duties of the biomedical waste Operator, including timely waste collection, worker training, and coordination with the Occupier. This week, we delve deeper into the Operator’s responsibilities—specifically those related to infrastructure, technology, record-keeping, and compliance. These additional duties ensure that biomedical waste is not only collected and transported safely but also treated, disposed of, and monitored in accordance with national standards. As we continue to explore the backbone of India’s biomedical waste management system, we also touch upon the role of the Prescribed Authority, the regulatory body tasked with ensuring implementation and oversight.


Duties of the operator:

Every operator of a common biomedical waste treatment facility shall set up requisite biomedical waste treatment equipment, like an incinerator, autoclave, or microwave, shredder, and effluent treatment plant as a part of treatment before commencement of its operation. Over the years, if an operator intends to use new technologies for the treatment of biomedical waste other than those listed here, they shall request the Central Government to lay down the standards or operating parameters.


After the plastic waste is completely sterilised by autoclaving or microwaving, followed by mutilation or shredding, whichever is applicable, it is to be given to recyclers having valid consent or authorisation, or registration from the respective State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee. The operator should arrange to supply non-chlorinated plastic coloured bags to the occupier on a chargeable basis, if required.


A common biomedical waste treatment facility shall ensure the collection of biomedical waste on holidays as well.


Maintain all records for operation of incineration, hydroclave, or autoclaving for a period of five years.


Upgrade existing incinerators to achieve the standards for retention time in the secondary chamber and dioxins and furans within two years from the date of this notification.


The operator must report major accidents like fire hazards and blasts during handling of biomedical waste, and the remedial action taken and the records relevant thereto (including nil report) in Form I to the prescribed authority, and also along with the annual report.


Maintain a logbook for each of its treatment equipment according to the weight of the batch, categories of waste treated, time, date, duration of treatment cycle, and total hours of operation.


An occupier has a right to visit the common facility to ensure that the treatment is being carried out following the norms. The operator must cooperate in such cases.


The operator shall display details of authorisation, treatment, annual report, etc., on its website.


The prescribed authority:

State Pollution Control Boards in respect of states and the Pollution Control Committees in respect of union territories are the prescribed authority for implementing the provisions of these rules in respect of all health care establishments, including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, etc. However, the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services, will function as the prescribed authority of all such establishments belonging to the Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defence. The prescribed authorities shall comply with the responsibilities as stipulated in these rules. These authorities are also responsible for providing authorisation in the prescribed format to the occupiers as well as to the operators. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) shall review the implementation of the rules in the country once a year through the State Health Secretaries and Chairmen or Member Secretaries of State Pollution Control Boards and the Central Pollution Control Board. The Ministry may also invite experts in the field of biomedical waste management if required.


In conclusion, the Operator’s role extends far beyond waste collection—it encompasses infrastructure setup, technological upgrades, safety protocols, and transparent reporting. Alongside the Occupier and under the watchful eye of the prescribed authority, the Operator plays a critical part in safeguarding public health and the environment.


(The author is an environmentalist.)

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