National Green Corps
National Green Corps (NGC)
The Department of Environment in Tamil Nadu acts as the nodal agency for implementing the National Green Corps (NGC) and has been operational since 2002-2003. There are 8000 NGC Eco Clubs operating in 32 districts with 250 per district. MoEF&CC, GoI provides a grant of Rs. 5000/- per school for NGC activities in 2018-19. Training is provided to teacher coordinators in each district of the state for NGC activities. Under this scheme, approximately 3,20,000 children participate in awareness campaigns.
NGC students are involved in various environmental awareness activities such as celebrating at least six Green Days in schools, cleaning the school campus, planting trees, environmental awareness rallies, making vermicompost, organizing environmental exhibitions, environmental competitions, anti-plastic campaigns, and cultural events related to the environment. Activities also include awareness programs, nature camps, and Swachh Bharat initiatives.
The primary objectives of this scheme are to educate children about immediate environmental concerns, interdependence, and their survival needs, to engage youth through visits and demonstrations, to foster a sense of scientific inquiry, and to involve them in environmental issues and conservation efforts. The National Green Corps has been initiated in 8000 schools across 32 districts in Tamil Nadu, with 250 schools per district.
- Helping children understand environmental and ecological issues.
- Providing environmental education opportunities to school students.
- Using the unique position of school children to influence community awareness and behavior.
- Facilitating the participation of children in decision-making related to environment and development.
- Directly involving children with environmental issues faced by their communities and encouraging them to think of solutions.
- Engaging children in action-based projects related to their surrounding environment.
