Toxics Link Regional Nodes

In order to extend its outreach into different parts of the nation, Toxics Link aims to develop regional nodes in collaboration with other NGOs. The idea is to partner with an organisation working in a related field of endeavour, in order that the synergies of the two operations enhance each other.

Toxics Link currently has a regional node at Chennai, established in collaboration with CAG (Citizen consumer and civic Action Group). Since it began functioning in 1999, the node has made significant impacts in the programme area of Toxics Free Health Care, successfully working on grassroots implementation of better waste management systems and simultaneously influencing state policy. While successfully establishing a sustainable waste management system in one of the largest government-run hospitals in the state, it has simultaneously been assisting the Tamil Nadu government on the healthcare waste management policy under the State Health Systems Development Project.

The other key area of work for the node is tracking the generation and import of e-waste in the southern States, particularly in Chennai. After successfully exposing the issue through its report ‘E-waste in Chennai – Time is running out’ in 2004, it is currently focussing on Extended Producer Responsibility in the IT industry.

Electronic waste is one of many campaigns that have had large-scale inputs from the nodes.

Apart from these areas, CAG and Toxics Link Chennai are jointly engaged in several issues concerning urban environmental management, such as water quality, and the management of municipal and hazardous waste. Recently the two groups have launched the Environmental Awareness Public Lecture Series, which aims to promote the dissemination of current scientific information on environmental issues to the general public.

Govindaraj ArunSenthilRam (Regional Program Coordinator) operate the Chennai node.