INTRODUCTION
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) formulated the programme National Green Corps (NGC) in 2001-2002, for promoting Eco-club formation and activities in schools across the country. In the year 2022-23, National Green Corps programme is revamped to Environment Education Programme (EEP), a component of the revamped Central Sector scheme ‘Environment Education, Awareness, Research and Skill Development (EEARSD)’. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment is the Nodal agency of the programme in the State.

This programme intends to leverage on the key sectoral strength of Eco-clubs already formed under National Green Corps programme, other such clubs formed under various programmes/ schemes of the Government. The objective of the Programme is to sensitize children/ youth, on issues related to environment and to motivate them to adopt sustainable lifestyle, through varied pedagogical initiatives like workshops, projects, exhibitions, campaigns,  Competitions, Nature camps, summer vacation programmes, etc. About 4500 schools in the State are actively participating in the programme through the Ecoclub groups created in schools.

FEATURES

Activities under EEP

• Sustainable life style Workshop for teachers & students: Sustainable life style workshops are organised for teachers and students of ecoclub schools under EEP Programme. The trainings are organised as one day programme for teachers and students at educational district level with the cooperation of District Implementation and Monitoring Committee of National Green Corps.
• Nature Camps: The programme aims to conduct field visits for NGC students in different protected areas/National parks/wildlife sanctuaries for 2-3 days to create awareness among school students on Environment and Nature. It  providesthe  studentsan  opportunityto  learnabout  naturalresources,  ecosystemservices  and  the importance of the area by involving them in activities such as: Know your Environment,  by preparing small checklist of flora and fauna seen/spotted by them in the nature trail, Bird watching, Trekking, Green Pledges, Group Discussion involving record/sharing of experiences and other nature based activities.
• Thematic campaigns & competitions:
  District and State level thematic competitions are organised every year for the Ecoclub students. Competitions such as Quiz, Painting, Essay writing, Debate etc. in connection with the Observation of Environmentally important days will be done. Under Thematic campaigns funds are released to the schools for organising Beach/ River/ Pond/ Public place cleaning campaigns, Street plays etc.
• EEP School Projects:
  As part of EEP programme funds are released from EEP for carrying out environment related projects in schools. The funds may be given to schools as student project to a group of students and a mentor for doing projects on environment related activities.
  The funds can be utilized for doing projects on environment such as Setting up of Biodiversity, Medicinal, Butterfly, Vegetable gardens, Miawaki forests, Bamboosetum, Waste composting measures in schools, Adopting measures for Plastic free campus, Adoption of natural bodies/places for protection, Hands on training for students on LED bulb making workshop, Mushroom cultivation.
• Hands on training for students @ R&D centers :
  KSCSTE–EEP Kerala organise hands on training for Ecoclub students at R&D Institutions  such as KFRI, STIC, CWRDM, JNTBGRI, MBGIPS & MSSRF on Tissue culture, Waste Management Techniques, Plantation Methods, Mushroom Cultivation, Water Quality Analysis, Traditional Knowledge transfer etc

 ELIGIBILITY

All registered schools in the State under State Government, CBSE and ICSC are eligible to form eco-clubs in the schools. The schools have to register in the EEP Portal maintained by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (https://eepmoefcc.nic.in/)

The Eco-club in school will be headed by the Principal or their nominee. The structure should include the Eco-club Coordinator and Eco-club Monitor in each class. About 50-100 students can become the members of each eco-clubs.

CONTACT

Dr. Anilkumar C

State Coordinator EEP

Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment
Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695004
Tel: ++91 + 471 2548223,317
E-mail: mail.kscste@kerala.gov.in, keralangc@gmail.com,
https://eepmoefcc.nic.in/

DOWNLOADS

• List of EEP District Coordinators