GREAT QUOTES
Priyan Rao
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
Q: Mr.Rao, I understand you were born
in 1965 and are currently 49 years old?
A: Yes, that is correct.
Q: Can you tell me about where you grew up and explain to the readers about your childhood?
A: I was born in India in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
I grew up in a small village and then traveled to a city for higher studies. Then, I moved to the U.S. for the job opportunities here.
Q: So you have seen change in waste management in both India and America?
A: Yes, I have.
Q: Could you please present your experiences in waste generation in India?
A: Well, when I was younger, most of what we produced was organic waste. Human waste was usually reproduced into fertilizer and used in the fields that my parents owned. And everything else that we had was usually reused for other purposes.
Q: Can you give me an example?
A: Well, when we were little, we maybe had five pairs of clothing at most. If any of our clothing ripped, our mother would stitch it up again. If not, my brother's clothes and mine would be torn up to use as rags to clean with.
Q:How has waste generation in India changed?
A: Today, if you visit many major cities in India, you will realize waste is a huge problem that not only is unpleasant to be around but also hinders tourism. Nowadays, people just throw their trash wherever they want. It is perfectly normal to throw banana peels wherever you want. Littering is not prevented by any legalities or enforced by authorities.
Q: How does the change in waste generation different from that of the U.S.?
A: When I first came to the U.S, people did not litter much, but they were not any recycling trash bottles anywhere then. The United States was definitely much cleaner seeing as it has a waste pickup system in place.
in place. But that has changed rapidly. Environmental concerns became a major issue as opposed to being radical views. Many environmental laws were placed into effect. Environmentalists had a strong voice and have even helped influence politics. Perspectives of the environmental field has changed drastically.
Q:Do you know of any changes that occurred in waste management?
A: Well, like I previously mentioned, in India most of the waste would be either organic or it would be used again for other purposes. But now, there is a shift in waste management. People nowadays tend to throw away a big portion of their trash because most of it is plastic. And since India does not have any recycling programs, this inorganic trash doesn't break down and is instead accumulated in the slums or in landfills which quickly overfill due to the high population numbers.
Q: Do you think this will change in the coming years?
A: While there have been some urges made from educated citizens to have a better trash pickup system, the main power lies in the government. And the government is very corrupted within as the politicians gain positions by bribery, so it doubtful that unless they receive a money incentive, they will most likely not pass any laws that promote a cleaner environment. As it is, passing laws in India is a convoluted process that requires huge mounds of money .
Q:Thank you so much for letting me interview you!It has been very enlightening to see the changes in societal views. Are there any other comments you would like to make?
A: No, but it has been my pleasure to help you. Best of luck on your project!
-Interview with Priyan Roa 4/14/2014(679 words)
-Interview conducted and edited by Bhavana Seelam
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"Environmental concern is now firmly embedded in public life: in education, medicine and law; in journalism, literature and art" -Barry Commoner