Srinagar, Dec. 28 -- India's growing waste crisis is often discussed in the context of metropolitan cities, but the situation in small and hilly districts remains largely invisible. During my summer internship on Waste Management in Rural and Urban Areas, conducted under the Department of Economics, SKC Government Degree College, Poonch, I collected both primary and secondary data to study local waste-disposal practices. The findings from Poonch district reflect a much wider national problem, particularly in small towns and rural regions.

Despite several government initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, waste management on the ground remains weak. Field observations and interactions with local residents revealed that lack of awar...