Context

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized an annual meeting of state nodal agencies implementing the ‘Eco club’ programme for the first time.

About

• National Green Corps is a programme started in 2001-02 by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change.
• Aim: To provide opportunities for children to understand the environment and environmental problems through school eco-clubs.
• The programme is a sub part of Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT) which is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of the Environment continuing since 1983-84.

Objectives of the Programme

• To impart knowledge to school children through hands-on experience, about their immediate environment, interactions within it and the problems therein.
• To develop requisite skills of observation, experimentation, survey, recording, analysis and reasoning for conserving the environment through various activities.
• To inculcate the proper attitude towards the environment and its conservation through community interactions.
• To sensitize children to issues related to environment and development through field visits and demonstrations.
• To promote logical and independent thinking among children so that they are able to make the right choices in a spirit of scientific inquiry.
• To motivate and stimulate young minds by involving them in action projects related to environmental conservation.

Implementation

• The scheme is being operated through Eco-clubs of 50-60 students having an interest in environment related issues, formed in member schools.
• Eco clubs are supervised by a Teacher In-charge who is selected from among the teachers of the member schools on the basis of his/her interest in environment related issues.
• There is District Implementation and Monitoring Committee to supervise, organise training for In-charge teachers and monitor periodically the implementation of scheme at the District level.
• There is a State Steering Committee for guidance, direction and to oversee the implementation of the scheme.
• The State Nodal Agency coordinates the implementation of the scheme in the State and organize related activities like training to Master Trainers.
• The National Steering Committee will give overall direction to the programme and ensure linkages at all levels.

Conclusion

The NGC is the largest programme in the world. The programme targets that the children participating in the programme will grow up and take care of the environment. The NGC cadets are given pride places at celebrations of national days when they participate in their NGC uniform. Also, when NGC cadets take up environmental activities they attract huge public attention.