The Hindu Editorial Analysis
4 August 2025
The ‘right to repair’ must include ‘right to remember‘
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
Topic : GS Paper III – Economy (Sustainable Consumption, Circular Economy)
GS Paper II – Governance (Policy Support, Innovation, Inclusive Growth)
GS Paper IV – Ethics (Tacit Knowledge, Grassroots Innovation)
Context
The Indian government proposed a ‘Repairability Index’ and Right to Repair policies in May 2025 to promote sustainable consumption. While this is a progressive step, the editorial argues that it should also include the “right to remember” — preserving tacit knowledge and informal repair ecosystems that support India’s innovation and sustainability goals.
Key Issues and Arguments
1. Why ‘Right to Repair’ is Crucial
- Enables reuse, repair, spare part access, and circular consumption.
- Counters the dominance of planned obsolescence.
- Promotes consumer rights, sustainability, and job creation in informal repair sectors.
- Supports India’s goals under:
- UN SDG Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production)
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
- National Strategy on AI (NSAI)
2. Tacit Knowledge: The Forgotten Pillar
- Much of India’s repair economy relies on tacit knowledge (hands-on learning, local innovation, intuition).
- Informal repairers diagnose faults by touch, sound, and visual clues—not manuals.
- This experiential wisdom is rarely documented but sustains countless livelihoods.
3. ‘Right to Remember’
- Refers to preserving India’s repair heritage, skills, and informal repair systems.
- Tacit knowledge should be recognized as valuable intellectual and cultural property.
- Without this, public policy may fail to protect millions in the unorganized repair sector.
Policy Gaps Identified
| Area | Gaps |
|---|---|
| Repair Ecosystem | Focuses only on repairability index and spare parts, not knowledge systems |
| Design Standards | Only 23% of smartphones are repairable due to manufacturer design |
| Skill Recognition | Lack of recognition for informal technicians in Ritchie Streets or Jhuggi markets |
| Tech & AI Policies | Miss out on human-in-the-loop repair innovation |
| Vocational Training | Skilling efforts still neglect informal diagnostic practices and sensorial knowledge |
Recent Initiatives Mentioned
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) – needs stronger links to repair innovation.
- National Education Policy (2020) – appreciates experiential learning.
- LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) – can support sustainability-based repair culture.
- India’s EPR norms – Extended Producer Responsibility still product-centric, not people-centric.
Suggestions for the Way Forward
- Expand ‘Right to Repair’ Framework
- Include repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and tacit knowledge preservation.
- Involve informal sector voices through Shram cards, UDYAM, and gig platforms.
- Institutional Support
- Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship must recognize repair as a green skill.
- Offer micro-certifications for repairers and recyclers.
- Use AI & digital platforms to document and transmit repair techniques.
- Design for Reparability
- Incentivize companies to make products modular, accessible, and repair-friendly.
- Use public procurement to reward repairable tech.
- Value Tacit Knowledge
- Protect informal knowledge like tribal healing, artisanal craftsmanship, and local innovations.
- Shift from material-focused IP regimes to knowledge commons.
Ethical and Philosophical Dimensions
- Draws from Ivan Illich’s philosophy: technology must be convivial, empowering people—not alienating them.
- Ethical technology policy must recognize unseen human labor behind repair and reuse.
Conclusion
India’s ‘Right to Repair’ should not just focus on products but must also preserve the people and knowledge that keep them running. By integrating the right to remember, India can build a repair culture rooted in sustainability, equity, and technological justice.