Lok Sabha Question No. 858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Activities of EEAT
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 858

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## Activities of EEAT

## 858. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

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

- (a) the details of activities of Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) Division during the last three years;
- (b) the funds allocated by the Ministry to this division during the said period;
- (c) the  various  initiatives  undertaken  by  EEAT  division  towards  ensuring  students' participation in environmental conservation;
- (d) whether it is a fact that the Ministry has signed some Memorandum of Understanding with educational and research institutes across the country in EEAT sector; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c) Environment Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) is a Central Sector scheme  implemented  by  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  with  the objective, inter alia , to promote environmental awareness and mobilize students' participation for environment conservation. Grants-in-aid were sanctioned under this Scheme for two major programmes,  namely,  National  Green  Corps  (NGC)  Programme  and  National  Nature Camping Programme (NNCP).

Under the NGC programme, more than 1 lakh Eco-clubs have been formed in schools and colleges to educate students and to spread awareness on environmental issues. A financial assistance of Rs 5,000/- per Eco-club used to be provided under this programme with a ceiling of  500  school  Eco-clubs  per  district  and  100  college  Eco-clubs  per  State.  Activities undertaken  by  Eco-clubs  included  plantation  drives,  cleanliness  drives, celebration of important environmental days, awareness and capacity building on solid waste management through waste segregation, green pledges, etc.

Further, under NNCP, organization of field visits/ nature camps in different Protected Areas/ Nature Parks/ Tiger Reserves of the country for students were supported and activities like preparing checklist of flora and fauna spotted in the nature trail, bird watching, trekking, green pledges, group discussions, sharing of experiences, etc. were undertaken during these camps.  These  camps  provided  'nature  experience'  to  students  and  had  huge  potential  to trigger  their  sensitivity  towards  nature  and  its  conservation.  A  financial  assistance  not exceeding Rs. 2,000/- per student for a camp of 2 nights and 3 days used to be provided under this programme, with a ceiling of 20 camps per State/ Union Territory.

The above programmes were implemented through State Nodal Agencies designated by the respective State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations. Details of funds allocated to this Scheme during the last three years are as below:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

| Financial Year   |   Budget Estimate (BE) |   Revised Estimate (RE) |
|------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2019-20          |                  50    |                      55 |
| 2020-21          |                  87.36 |                      45 |
| 2021-22          |                  60    |                      60 |

The  EEAT  scheme  has  been  revamped  during  the  current  financial  year  into 'Environment Education Programme'.

- (d) & (e) No  Memorandum  of  Understanding  has  been  signed  with  educational  and research institutes across the country under EEAT scheme.

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