Abstract

NANOETHICS – AN IMPERATIVE IMPLICATION FOR RISK GOVERNANCE IN INDIA

Sujana Papani* and Saivenkatesh Korlam

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a new category of knowledge intensive enabling technology, an amalgamation of various disciplines to engender innovative process and products that has revolutionarized many aspects of modern life by making remarkable impacts in the field of medicine, engineering, environment, economy and even politics. In essence, in countries like India, this technology gained prominence mainly to provide large influx of funds for research to address urgent societal basic needs like water purification, health care etc. Despite the awesome potential benefits, there are foretold latent risks which need to be seriously examined before incorporating nano products and processes in to the society. However, a wide range of ethical issues like, privacy, valu conflicts, accountability, intellectual property rights, non discrimination, equity, hype, self-replication, Cyborgs, socioeconomic issues raised against misuse of military, security tools and human longevity etc., may lead to irreversible disasters in the society. We need to create a definite set of policies or guide lines that will aid in either eliminating or at least minimizing the detrimental effects raised due to the rapid implications of Nanoscience. Since nanotechnology is a convergence of various disciplines, bioethical laws alone may not be able to cope up or held responsible for resolving all the issues. This has necessitated to curtain rise a new branch of ethics, called as „Nanoethics‟. This nano ethical frame work considerably confluences all synergic ethical issues with various disciplines amalgamated in Nanoscience and technology. Unsurprisingly, stakeholders in India are using many nano products without bothering about the risks behind due to their easy accessibility and simplicity. Even government has not paid much attention until recent launching of Nano mission (2007) by Department of Science and Technology (DST). But still there are no definite set of policies formulated to maneuver the risk assess- ment, management and communication in India. Nanoethical frame work needs to be strengthened further more, by clubbing all stake holders and experts to form permanent cen-tral co-ordinate bodies to guide, formulate unbiased policies and also to envision anticipated nano strategies for future implications and to face market challenges.

Keywords: Nano pollution, Nanoethics, Risk assessment, Nano mission, Nanotechnolo-gy.