India

India first became involved in this project in 2002, and the first global project planning meeting took place in 2002 in New Delhi. The project was formally endorsed by the GEF Operational Focal Point in India on 25 August, 2004.

In India, this project is achieving the following objectives:

1. Establish model facilities and programs to exemplify best practices in healthcare waste management.


2. Deploy and evaluate commercially available, non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies appropriate to the needs of India.


3. Introduce the use of mercury-free devices in model facilities, evaluate their acceptability and efficacy, and develop and disseminate awareness-raising and educational materials related to mercury.


4. Establish or enhance training programs to build capacity for the implementation of best practices and technologies both within and beyond the model facilities and programs.


5. Review relevant national policies, seek agreement by relevant authorities on recommended updates or reformulations as needed, seek agreement on an implementation plan and, if appropriate, assist in holding a policy review conference for these purposes.


6. Disseminate project results and materials to stakeholders and hold conferences or workshops to encourage replication.


7. Make project results on demonstrated best techniques and practices available for dissemination and scaling-up regionally.

*An additional project objective to develop, test, manufacture and deploy affordable, small-scale non-incineration technologies for use in sub-Saharan Africa is being achieved in Tanzania.

National Management Arrangements

The national project activities are being executed by the Government of India with oversight management services by the United Nations Development Programme India Country Office. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has lead responsibility for project management and direction, and it has appointed a National Project Director to lead the project.

Overall direction of the national project activities is provided by a National Project Steering Committee (NPSC), whose membership includes representatives of key ministries, the project's principal cooperating agencies and partners. The National Working Group (NWG), composed of individuals from appropriate ministries, agencies and stakeholder groups who have practical involvement or interest in day-to-day project activities, provides advice and expertise to the NPSC on project-related policy, economic, scientific and technical issues. A national project coordinator, generally assisted by one or more national technical consultants, coordinates the implementation of day-to-day project activities. Learn more about how these arrangements fit into the project's global structure.

Learn more about the project's work in India related to model facilities, technology, mercury, the training program and national policy. 

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