Lok Sabha Question No. 1880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: National Environment Awareness Campaign
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1880

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## National Environment Awareness Campaign

## 1880.  SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  announced  an  abrupt  end  to  National  Environment Awareness Campaign;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the target of the campaign has been achieved and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) the  mechanism  through  which  the  Government  ensures  environment  awareness among the people; and
- (e) whether  the  financial  assistance  required  for  the  campaign  has  not  been  budgeted adequately  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken  against  the concerned officials in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  to  (b):  The  National  Environment  Awareness  Campaign  (NEAC)  programme  was launched  in 1986  with  the  objective to create  environmental  awareness  through  the involvement  of  Non-Governmental  Organisations  /  autonomous  bodies  /  colleges.  NEAC programme was reviewed on 18.8.2017 by the Standing Finance Committee on Environment Education,  Awareness  and  Training  (EEAT)  scheme  and  as  per  the  decisions  taken,  the budget earmarked for NEAC programme was merged with the ongoing National Green Corps (NGC)  'Ecoclub'  programme.  The  NGC  programme  also  aims  at  creating  environmental awareness through school and college children. Accordingly, the funds for each ecoclub under NGC programme has been increased from Rs 2500/- to Rs 5000/- from FY 2017-18. Presently there are about 90,000 ecoclubs under the said programme in the country.

(c) The ecoclubs undertakes the activities as detailed out in the approved action plan prepared by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in consultation with State/UTs nodal agencies constituted specifically to implement and monitor the activities. Till date during financial year 2018-19, Rs 36 crore has been released to around 67000 ecoclubs so  far  across  the  country.  Ecoclubs  played  active  role  in  several  campaigns  undertaken  by MoEF&CC and also by the respective State/UT Governments that includes 'Harit Diwali Swasth  Diwali'  campaign,  Swachh  Bharat  Abhiyan,  World  Environment  Day  celebrations from  1-5 th June  2018,  wherein  India  was  the  host  country.  Further  the  programme  'Green Good  Deeds'  initiated  by  the  Ministry  is  also  implemented  through  ecoclub  schools  and colleges.

(d)  The  National  Green  Corps  'Ecoclub'  programme is monitored by the respective Nodal agencies which submit the progress reports alongwith audited Utilisation certificate, Expenditure Statement and accordingly, the funds are released for the financial year.

(e)  Annual  budget  for  NGC  programme  is  based  on  estimation  of  likely  proposals  to  be received  from  the  State/UT  Governments.    All  proposals  received  from  UTs  and  State Governments up to 3rd  quarter of  the  financial  year  2018-19  have  been  processed  and  the funds disbursed.

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