Household Willingness to Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management Services: Using Contingent Valuation Analysis in India

Solid waste management is one of the crucial problems in India. An increasing population, industrialization and urbanization have major sources for increasing solid waste in India. The per capita waste generation in India is between 0.6 and 1 kg per day also expected to increase in future. This chapter has discussed two important aspects first; there is lack of study on economic analysis India, second most of the studies have focused on urban solid waste management in India. The present study has used household willingness to pay through the contingent valuation method for improved solid waste management of 150 household in semi-urban areas in Madurai, India. The study has found that the household respondents are willingness to pay Rs 24 (US$ 0.34) for clean environment in the semi-urban area. This study has also found more than 95% of household respondents are willing to pay for solid waste management in Madurai. Most of the household respondents are felt improper solid waste management has one of the important reasons for health issue particularly for children and elderly people in the study area. The main policy implication of the study is to design proper solid waste management plan for collection, transportation, disposal and segregation of solid waste in semi-urban areas in India

Economics of Solid Waste Management: A Review

Solid Waste Management is one of the importance environmental issues at many developing countries. There is a lack of studies on economic analysis of solid waste management in the many cities at the national and international level. Most of the Municipal Corporation or city management is the major responsibility for better waste management. However, the local governments has been allocated budget for solid waste management without analysing cost and benefit of solid waste. Although, waste management budget is focusing on collected waste but, uncollected waste has been creating a number of socio, economic and health issues. Therefore, this chapter has presents a details review on economics of solid waste management at the various developing and developed countries. The main policy implication of the paper is to emphasis on better understanding of economic importance of solid waste management to the local policy makers

Economic Value of Cultural Ecosystem Services in India: A Review

Cultural ecosystem service (CES) is one of the important components in the ecosystem services framework which was designed by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Cultural ecosystems services are the non-material benefits provides by various ecosystem services such as forest, wetland etc. CES is the vital contribution in the human well-being such as good physical and mental health. Further, CES is the major role in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health and well-being. CES is still less primary investigation the economic literature especially in the Indian context link with the sustainable ecosystem management. Therefore, economic value of cultural ecosystem services is needed to study in the local level aspects. In the above mentioned context, this chapter is present the economic value of cultural ecosystem services in India. The main policy implication of the study is to design entry fee for many protected areas such as wildlife sanctuary, national park as well as sustainable environmental management for the present and future generation

Estimating provider cost for treating patients with tuberculosis under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)

Background: The Indian tuberculosis control programme is the second largest health programme in the world. Sustaining this programme in India will require continued financial support, particularly for drugs and contractual personnel. In addition, the costs for diagnosis, supervision and salaries for regular programme personnel need to be sustained. Objective: To measure unit provider cost for treating patients with tuberculosis. Methods: All government health facilities situated in one tuberculosis unit (TU) of Tiruvallur district were visited in order to evaluate daily practice of TB diagnosis and treatment. We interviewed administrators in these health facilities to gather data on modalities for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of tuberculosis patients. In addition, relevant financial records from all health facilities were scrutinised for data collection. The cost analysis was done for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of TB patients treated under DOTS programme in the year 2002 For this study only the recurrent cost (not the capital cost) is considered, even though the programme puts in a lot of investment at the preparatory stage of the programme e.g. upgrading of labs and drugs stores, microscopes, motorcycles etc. Cost incurred on smear microscopy, chest X-ray and drugs were classified as direct cost. Indirect cost is calculated based on proportion of staff time for TB care delivery and for supervision of TB services. The exchange rate at the time study was 1$=Rs 46. Results: Unit cost for smear microscopy was estimated to be Rs 10/-; for radiography Rs 25/-; and drug cost for Category I Rs 392/-; Category I with extension Rs 495/-; Category II Rs 729/-; Category II with extension Rs 832/- and Category III Rs 277/-. Including other recurrent expenditures like salary, materials, and maintenance, the overall unit provider cost to treat a TB patient was Rs 1587/- for Category I, Rs 1924/- for Category II and Rs 1417/- Category III. Conclusion: TB inflicts considerable economic burden on the overall health system. This information is vital for policy makers and planners to allocate adequate budget to the programme

Tuberculosis control programme - Is it pro poor?

Background: TB is a complex socio economic problem that impedes human development and traps the poorest and most marginalized in a vicious circle of disease and poverty. India accounts for 30% of all TB cases in the world. Objective: This paper is focusing on whether the TB programme is outreaching the poorer segment ofthe community. We did a prospective study to assess the economic indices (SLI) of TB patients registered under government TB control programme of Tamil Nadu. This data was compared with that of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data of the community Methods: A semi-structured and pretested schedule was used for data collection. Information elicited through the interview included demographic and socio-economic characteristics such as employment, income, assets of the patient and family. Based on the information collected, standard of living index (SLI) was measured using the NFHS definition and classified as High, medium or low SLI. Results: A total of 980 TB patients were registered during the study period of which 896 (91 %) patients were interviewed for this study. The economic status and SLI of the community compared with that of TB patients registered under the programme was as follows: people owning assets in the form of agriculture land 40%, 15%, owning a house 92%, 74% and livestock 36%, 14% no of persons sharing a room more than 5 persons per room 9%, 28%. The distribution of SLI in the community was low in 51 %, medium in 40% and high in 8% as compared to the distribution of SLI of TB patients where low SLI was observed in 64%, medium in 32% and high in 4%. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that two thirds of TB patients who have access to the TB programme were poor and meets the health need of the most vulnerable segment of the population

Costs to patients with tuberculosis treated under DOTS programme

Background: The economic burden of TB in India is enormous as TB perpetuates and exacerbates poverty. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) based on DOTS strategy is currently being implemented in India. The purpose of this study is to estimate the costs incurred by tuberculosis patients treated under RNTCP in a district in Tamilnadu where services are decentralized for diagnosis and treatment. Method: In all, 455 patients registered under RNTCP between June and December 2000, in Tiruvallur district were interviewed to collect the following information: Demographic, socio-economic characteristics of patients, expenditure incurred due to illness and effect of illness on employment. Based on the data collected, various costs (direct medical, nonmedical, indirect and total costs incurred on account of tuberculosis before and during treatment) were estimated. In addition Standard of Living Index (SLI) was calculated for patients. Results: Of 455 patients, 62% had low SLI. The median direct, indirect and total costs for 343 patients who successfully completed treatment were as follows: pre treatment direct costs were Rs 340, during treatment direct costs Rs 100; more than 50% of patients did not incur any indirect costs in both pre treatment and during treatment periods and overall total costs were Rs 1398. About 12% of patients lost more than 60 workdays and after completing treatment, 88% returned to work. Conclusion: For patients registered under RNTCP in Tiruvallur district in Tamilnadu, the findings that the total patient costs were Rs 1398/- and also the patients returned to work early establishes the economic benefits to patients treated under DOTS and lend support to rapid expansion of DOTS programme, particularly in low-income countries

Identifying effective communication channels in a rural community: A field report from south India

Background: There is scarcity of information on communication channels in rural areas where about 38% of people are illiterate. Objective: To identify the channels of communication available in rural areas by interviewing key informants. Method: This study was conducted in 51 villages of Ellapuram block, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu in the year 2004. Key informants selected from the villages were interviewed by a Medical Social Worker. The questionnaire included information on modes of communication channels, availability of markets, public facilities, and local associations. Result: The study block included 9893 households covering a population of 39255. Their main occupation was agriculture (86%). Electricity was available in all the villages. More than 80% of the villagers had community TV/cable connections, >50% of the villages had cinema star fan associations, mahila mandals, youth clubs, self-help groups, anganwadi centres and ration shops. The main source of communication as per interview was television (100%), wallposters (55%); publicity through panchayat office meetings (53%) and dandora or beat of drums(43%). Conclusion: Main communication channels, commonly used to disseminate information were TV and wall posters. More than 50% of villages had local associations which can be used for effective communication. This information is vital for disseminating important information on public health programmes and educating the rural community

Socio-economic impact of parental tuberculosis on children

The impact of parental pulmonary tuberculosis on children was studied from a larger study of socioeconomic effects of the disease. The effect in children was studied in respect of 1) social, economic and demogaphic characteristics of the parents (who were patients), 2) the child care functions of mothers who were patients and 3) effect on children's education. In all. 276 children of 167 tuberculous parents were studied The socio-eeonomic and demographic characteristics were generally the same as are cornmonly seen. The child caring on the part of mothers fell from 64% to 35% for rural females and from 74% to 33% for urban females; 11% of children (8% rural, 13% urban) dropped out of school, significantly higher in famlies with 5 or more members and children living with both parents compared to single parent; 34% of study parents could not buy school books or adequate food because of loss of income and 20% of the children were obliged to take up jobs in order to supplement income

Risk Factors for Non-adherence to Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) in a Rural Tuberculosis Unit, South India

Objective: To identify risk factors for non-adherence of tuberculosis (TB) patients to DOT. Methods: Retrospective study of TB patients by logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for non-adherence. Results: Of the 1666 patients interviewed, 1108 (67%) adhered and 558 (33%) did not adhere to DOT. Of 558 patients, the risk factors associated with non-adherence were illiteracy (39%), difficulty in accessing health facility (57%), and nongovernment DOT centre (43%). Conclusion: Patients should be educated about tuberculosis and importance of DOT. All DOT centres, including Nongovernment DOT centres, should be made more accessible and patient-friendly

The effects of climate change on children’s education attainment

It is proven that the consequences of climate change have grater impacts for the most vulnerable populations, and children are one of these social groups in risk of poverty and social exclusion. In this regard, education plays a pivotal role to guarantee the children’s personal and professional development. In this context, there is a need for scientific research on how climate change impacts children’s education attainment. This paper provides an analysis of the extent to which climate change influences education attainment among children and suggests some measures to address the problem. It reports on a literature review complemented by a set of case studies, with the purpose of exploring how child-centred responses to climate change can contribute to building the resilience of households and communities. Based on the findings from the study and bearing in mind the international literature on the topic, the paper outlines some possible areas of intervention in respect to climate literacy and climate education, which may be helpful in raising awareness among children about climate change and its many ramifications