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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

‘Tiger’ backs ‘Cockroach’

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) became the first political party to openly support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched by a Maharashtra youth Abhijeet Dipke who launched a huge protest in New Delhi on Saturday. In a strong statement, SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind the CJP as thousands of youngsters hit the streets of New Delhi in the scorching sun, not for politics but for their future. “Those whom we call the architects of the nation's future have come...

‘Tiger’ backs ‘Cockroach’

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) became the first political party to openly support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched by a Maharashtra youth Abhijeet Dipke who launched a huge protest in New Delhi on Saturday. In a strong statement, SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind the CJP as thousands of youngsters hit the streets of New Delhi in the scorching sun, not for politics but for their future. “Those whom we call the architects of the nation's future have come out carrying their pain, frustration and anxiety about their future. It is wrong to ridicule them as ‘cockroaches’ and deny them justice,” said the SS (UBT) Tiger. Thackeray said the recent NEET paper leak scandal had shattered the dreams of lakhs of students and their families, raising questions in the minds of youngsters whether merit still matters – as the movement which started on social media has spilled onto the streets across the country. “All these aggrieved young men and women are now raising their voices by becoming ‘cockroaches’. The government must listen to their demands. Do not underestimate the ‘cockroaches’ – this is the warning given by the agitation (today) at Jantar Mantar,” said Thackeray sharply. The SS (UBT)’s supportive stance came against the backdrop of mounting anger among students over the alleged irregularities in major public examinations like NEET, CBSE, CUET, and recruitment processes, which has shaken confidence in the country's education system. The Protest Around dawn, Dipke, 30 – who launched the online movement three weeks ago from the USA – reached India as thousands of supporters waited patiently and peacefully near the Parliament Street Police Station. Many waved the National Tricolour, copies of the Constitution or books of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, others carried flowers which they offered to the 1000-plus alert security personnel deployed there, and several sported symbolic cockroach masks. In a brief address, Dipke accused the government of focusing more on the CJP’s online presence than on the serious issues raised by the students. “You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space,” he roared, amid loud cheers and thundering applause from the crowd. He said there must be accountability in the form of the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, failing which the CJP will continue its protests in New Delhi and also other parts of India. Anticipating detention after his homecoming, Dipke: “I was fully prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause.” In a warm gesture, environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk arrived from Ladakh to join the protest, declared himself as an ‘Honorary cockroach’ and expressed solidarity with Dipke. “People ask what is achieved through protests, sit-ins and marches. It proves that we are alive. The government may treat us like insects, but we are alive and capable of fighting for our rights,” mocked the CJP in a social media statement The CJP volunteers repeatedly urged the protestors to maintain decorum and make their impact in a democratic manner, which the crowds adhered to, but raised full-throated slogans intermittently, even as the protest ended without any untoward incidents. Incidentally, the Delhi Police granted permission for the demonstrations by allowing the crowds to gather directly at Jantar Mantar grounds as a ‘one-time exemption’. Demonstrations expressing solidarity to the cause were held in different parts of the country while tight security was deployed outside Dipke’s home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinar. Why are students forced to agitate?: Aaditya Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray said why the students are being compelled to agitate when they should be planning out academic future and career options. “The young students exposed the NEET leak scam, or the CBSE marks scandal. The minister should have resigned or should have been sacked, some officials have been transferred but not suspended. The government should be ashamed of the situation,” said Aditya.

New Plastic Rules Push Producers Towards Circular Economy Goals

Comprehensive regulations alone cannot solve the plastic waste crisis. Their success will depend on credible enforcement and accountability.

Through previous articles in this series, we have learned that India's plastic waste management framework is primarily anchored by the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. These rules have been continuously strengthened through major amendments in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024-25, and most recently in April 2026.


The latest amendments mark a significant policy shift. Earlier, the focus was largely on collection and processing targets. The new framework increasingly emphasises the use of recycled plastic content, with mandatory minimum recycled content requirements rising from 30 per cent to 60 per cent by 2028-29. This signals a move from collection-centric regulation to market-driven compliance.


At the same time, some provisions may weaken accountability. For example, allowing companies to carry forward unmet targets could create "elastic" enforcement, reducing the pressure for timely compliance.


India generates an estimated 9 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. As a result, the central challenge is no longer policy design alone but ensuring credible monitoring, effective enforcement, and deeper integration of circular economy principles.


Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) remains the backbone of India's plastic waste management strategy. Based on the "Polluter Pays" principle, EPR shifts the responsibility for managing plastic waste from local municipalities to the companies that generate it.


The rules apply to PIBOs (Producers, Importers and Brand Owners) as well as PWPs (Plastic Waste Processors), including recyclers and waste-to-energy plants.


The following are the key provisions introduced under the latest amendment.


Mandatory Recycled Content

Category I: Rigid Plastic: This category includes hard plastics such as bottles, containers, tubes, and jars, which are generally easier to collect and recycle. Producers must ensure that recycled content constitutes at least 30 per cent of such packaging in 2025-26, with the requirement increasing to 60 per cent by 2028-29.


Category II: Flexible Plastic: This category covers single-layer and multi-layer sheets, cling films, carry bags, sachets, and stand-up pouches, including LDPE and zip-lock bags. The mandatory recycled content requirement starts at 10 per cent in 2025-26 and rises to 20 per cent by 2028-29.


Category III: Multi-layered Plastic: This includes packaging made of plastic combined with other materials such as aluminium foil, paper, or paperboard, commonly used for chip packets and instant food packaging. The recycled content target has been set at 5 per cent for 2025-26 and will increase to 10 per cent by 2028-29.


Companies that fail to meet their targets in 2025-26 can carry forward the shortfall for up to three years, until 2028-29. However, they must make up at least one-third of the deficit each year.


The rules also institutionalise a tradable credit system. Companies can fulfil their recycling obligations by purchasing credits from firms that exceed their prescribed targets.


While this provides flexibility and may reduce compliance costs, it also allows companies to meet obligations without directly recycling their own plastic waste. The risk of misuse remains significant. In 2023, the Central Pollution Control Board reported more than six lakh fake recycling certificates.


Compliance is monitored through a centralised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal operated under the supervision of the Central Pollution Control Board. The portal is designed to facilitate registration, reporting, monitoring, and enforcement.


The shift to a digitised EPR platform has transformed corporate accountability by replacing opaque self-reporting mechanisms with a more verifiable, market-linked credit system. This institutional change encourages brand owners to internalise environmental costs and creates a formal economic incentive for plastic waste traceability and lifecycle management.


India's EPR framework is undergoing rapid formalisation. More than 60,000 Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) are now registered on the centralised portal, improving traceability and expanding regulatory coverage across the plastic value chain.


The impact has been substantial. Since the EPR guidelines came into force in 2022, approximately 20.7 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been recycled.


More on this in my next article. Till then, have a nice weekend!


(The writer is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

 


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