First Annual Meet of State Nodal Agencies for Ecoclub programme conducted

News:Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has organized an annual meeting of state nodal agencies for implementing the National Green Corps ‘Eco Club’ programme for the first time.

Facts:

About National Green Corps:

• National Green Corps is a programme started in 2001-02 by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change.
• The programme aims 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.