Gender-Inclusive Circular Economy Policies: Assessing the Effectiveness of Current Policies in Supporting Women Scrap Collectors in Karnataka Specifically Bangalore
摘要
The focus areas of the circular economy include waste minimization and optimum utilization of available resources by way of more recycling, reuse, and sustainability. The informal sector in waste management is playing a very important role in this transition in India, wherein the women waste collectors comprise a significant part of the workforce. This paper examines the efficiency of inclusive circular economy policy in enabling and supporting the women waste collectors in Bangalore, Karnataka. Women waste collectors in the informal waste management sector face problems like resource gaps, unequal pay, and hazardous working conditions despite playing a critical role in this industry. This study will assess the effectiveness of existing policies in addressing the concerns and economically empowering women within this sector. It works on finding the gap and opportunities of policy implementation through secondary data analysis supported by primary fieldwork with the aim of making the transition to a circular economy equitable and inclusive for the concerned stakeholders.