Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: NGOs Participation in Environmental Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *356

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## NGOs Participation in Environmental Projects

## *356.  SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state :

- (a) Whether the Government encourages Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for participating in environmental projects and to spread the environmental awareness in the country ;
- (b) if so, the details regarding the schemes in place and the criteria laid down for funding requirements of the voluntary/professional/Non-Governmental organizations involved in the said project, and
- (c) the total funds granted to such NGOs for tiger conservation during the last three  years in the State of Maharashtra ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (c)   :    A Statement to be laid on the Table of the House.

***

Statement referred to in parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *356  due  for reply on 19.03.2021 regarding NGOs  participation  in Environmental  Projects  asked  by  Shri  Sunil  Baburao  Mendhe,  Hon'ble Member of Parliament

(a) and (b) Yes Sir.  There are various schemes in the Ministry, which are carried out in participation with Voluntary/Professional/Non-Governmental Organizations, for the conservation of environment and spread awareness in the country.  The major details of different schemes and criteria for NGOs to participate therein are enclosed as Annexure. The  grants  for  environmental  projects  under  various  Schemes  are  sanctioned  as  per guidelines  of  respective  Schemes.  Each  Organisation  has  to  abide  by  the  guidelines prescribed for grants under the scheme.  Besides, each and every NGOs/VOs has to sign up on the Darpan Portal of the NITI Aayog and obtain a system generated Unique ID. The Unique ID is mandatory to apply for grants under various schemes of Ministry.

(c)  No funds have been granted to any NGO in Maharashtra State during the past three years by the Project Tiger Division/National Tiger Conservation Authority.

***

Annexure to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *356 due for reply on 19.03.2021 regarding NGOs participation in Environmental Projects asked by Shri Sunil Baburao Mendhe, Hon'ble Member of Parliament

|   S. No. | Name of Scheme (CS/CSS/Esstt)                                                  | Criteria being followed for awarding grant to NGOs for project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Research and Development (R&D) (Central Sector Scheme)                         | The scheme on R&D for conservation and development of environment is conceived to provide 'selective support' to Universities, reputed institutions, including NGOs/Professional organizations for specific projects on environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. The scheme is open to all institutions in the country with expertise in identified thematic areas to undertake projects on environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.                                                                      |
|        2 | Centre of Excellence (CoE) (Central Sector Scheme)                             | The Scheme was conceived to provide 'selective support' to Universities, reputed institutions including NGOs professional organisation and other scientific and technical institutions to enable them to develop into advanced centres at the national level in that particular subject area.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|        3 | Clean Technology (CT) (Central Sector Scheme) Sub-scheme of pollution control) | Financial assistance under the scheme is provided to projects whose primary research has already been completed and is ready for Pilot scale demonstration research of innovative technologies in the areas of highly polluting categories of industries. Main objective of the scheme related to waste minimization is to optimize the consumption of raw materials and also to reduce waste generation by adopting suitable production techniques. (This scheme discontinued in 2017. Only residual works (pipe- lined project) are being supported.) |
|        4 | Project Elephant (PE) (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)                             | Project Elephant aims at providing support to the States to conserve and protect viable population of elephants and to conserve/protect natural habitats and traditional corridors through eco-restoration or acquisition etc.Financial support under the scheme is provided to the State Governments for various activities for protecting elephants, improvement of habitats, census and monitoring of elephant population etc.                                                                                                                       |
|        5 | Development of wild life habitats (DWLH) (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)          | Grant-in-aid under the Development of wildlife habitat is provided to State/UT Administration for conservation and management of the Protected areas. The scheme also has a Central Sector component wherein the grant is provided for the Research Projects to various agencies including NGOs.Grants under the scheme are released to State Governments for (i) support to Protected areas, (ii) Protection of Wildlife outside protected areas and (iii) Recovery Program for critically endangered habitats and species.                            |
|        6 | Environment Information System (ENVIS) (Central Sector Scheme)                 | ENVIS, serves as a single-stop web-enabled repository of comprehensive environmental information with collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination through a nationwide network of ENVIS Hubs. The NGOs which are working in specific area related to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

|    |                                                                                                                        | Environment, forest, wildlife, biodiversity etc are considered for setting up of a ENVIS RP in a specified thematic area, if they fulfill the requirements of the ENVIS Scheme. In addition to this, grants-in-aid is also provided for conducting GSDP (Green Skill Development Programmes).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  7 | AICOPTAX (Research programme of BSI/ZSI)                                                                               | Under the All India Co-ordinated Project on Capacity Building in Taxonomy (AICOPTAX), various Institutions or Organizations involved in thematic areas of research i.e. Plant and Animal viruses, bacteria, algae etc., are provided financial assistance for undertaking advance taxonomic research                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|  8 | Hazardous Substances Management (Central Sector Scheme)                                                                | NGOs/Societies engaged in promotion of waste management sector are eligible to seek financial assistance for conducting Capacity Building programmes and organizing awareness programmes with respect to environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|  9 | Forestry Training and Capacity Building (Central Sector Scheme)                                                        | Funds are released to various agencies, including training institutions/organisations to impart in-service trainings to upgrade the managerial skills of the officers in changing socio-economic scenario of the country as also to expose them to the recent developments in the field of forestry and allied subject to enable them to handle their present duties and future needs more effectively.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 10 | National Mission of Himalyan Study Scheme (Central Sector Scheme) Integrated Eco Development Research Programme (IERP) | NMHS - The Mission provides grants to various organisations viz. academic and research institutions, universities, government agencies, state governments as also the NGOs engaged towards strengthening the community participatory approach on certain key demand-driven developmental issues and interventions. The proposals must explicitly integrate the three NMHS cross-cutting themes of Climate Change, Gender Equality and Communications. IERP - The programme supports projects for financial assistance involving scientific research institutions, universities and NGOs working in IHR. (It is a programme of Central Govt. under GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development and not a part of the scheme.) |