EEAT Scheme

Environment Education, Awareness & Training (EEAT) Scheme is a Central Scheme. The details of the Scheme are given below.

EEAT Scheme was launched during the 6th Five Year Plan in 1983-84 with the following objectives:

(i) To promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society;

(ii) To spread environment education, especially in the non-formal system among different sections of the society;

(iii) To facilitate development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector;

(iv) To promote environment education through existing educational/scientific/research institutions;

(v) To ensure training and manpower development for environment education, awareness and training;

(vi) To encourage non-governmental organizations, mass media and other concerned organizations for promoting awareness about environmental issues among the people at all levels;

(vii) To use different media including films, audio, visual and print,, theatre, drama, advertisements, hoarding, posters, seminars, workshops, competitions, meetings etc. for spreading messages concerning environment and awareness; and

(viii) To mobilize people's participation for preservation and conservation of environment.

The objectives of this scheme are being realized through implementation of the following programmes launched over the years:

(1) National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC).

(2) National Green Corps (NGC).

(3) Global Learning & Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE).

(4) Strengthening Environment Education in School System and other courses at Graduate and Post-Graduate level including Professional Courses.

(5) Advertising & Publicity.

(6) Seminars/Symposia/Workshops.

(7) Publication of Resource Material related to Environment.

(8) Grants-in-Aid to Professional Societies & Institutions.

(9) Other Awareness Programmes like Vacation Programmes, Quiz/Essay/Debate/Poster/Slogan competitions, training programmes etc.

(10) Library.

EEAT Outcomes:

1. About 3 million children and teachers from 75,000 NGC schools adopt measures that are environmentally sustainable.

2. 70% of participating schools demonstrate environmentally sustainable discipline. Atleast 10% of the schools also show environmental stewardship and are engaged in scientific discovery.

3. 25% of participating school surrounds show environmentally sustainable practices.

4. 70% of projects covered under EEAT are engaged in environment friendly action including issue based engagement and policy advocacy.

• Development of educational/teaching materials and aids in the formal education sector;

• To encourage non-governmental organisations, mass media and other concerned organisations for promoting awareness among the people at all levels;

• To promote environment education through existing educational/scientific/research institutions;

• To ensure training and manpower development in environment education; and

• To mobilise people’s awareness for the preservation and conservation of environment.

• Programmes under Formal Environmental Education are :

• Environment Education in School System

• Environmental Appreciation Courses

• Environmental concepts in Management and Business Studies

• Programmes under Non-Formal Environmental Education are :

• National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)

• Eco-clubs (NGC)

• GLOBE

• Mass Awareness

Index

Non-formal Environment Education and Awareness

Environmental Education, Awareness and Training plays a significant role in encouraging and enhancing people's participation in activities aimed at conservation, protection and management of the environment, essential for achieving sustainable development. The Ministry, therefore, accords priority for the promotion of non-formal environment education and creation of awareness among all sections of the society through diverse activities using traditional and modern media of communication. Some of the major activities undertaken in this regard are as follows: National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)

The NEAC was launched in mid 1986 with the objective of creating environmental awareness at the national level. It is a multi-media campaign which utilises conventional and non-conventional methods of communication for disseminating environmental messages to a wide range of target groups. Under this campaign, nominal financial assistance is provided to registered NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research institutions, women and youth organisations, army units, State Government Departments etc. from all over the country for organising/ conducting awareness raising activities. These activities which include seminars, workshops, training programmes, camps, padyatras, rallies, public meetings, exhibitions, essay/debate/painting/poster competitions, folk dances and songs, street theatre, puppet shows, preparation and distribution of environmental education resource materials etc., are followed by action like plantation of trees, management of household waste, cleaning of water bodies etc. Diverse target groups encompassing students, youth, teachers, tribals, farmers, other rural population, professionals and the general public are covered under NEAC. The programme is being implemented through 28 designated Regional Resource Agencies (RRAs) for specific states/regions of the country. The list of these RRAs along with their addresses is given at the end. The applications for participation in this programme are invited every year through advertisement in major national and regional newspapers during the months of May/June. Any additional information can be obtained from the concerned regional resource agency. Eco-clubs (National Green Corps)

The main objectives of this programme are to educate children about their immediate environment and impart knowledge about the eco-systems, their inter-dependence and their need for survival, through visits and demonstrations and to mobilise youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation.

Since the modification of the scheme in 1993, more than 10,000 Eco-clubs had been provided grants until 2000-2001 in various parts of the country. Considering that the total number of schools covered were grossly inadequate compared to the total number of schools in the country and keeping in view the potential of this programme in sensitizing the school students. It was decided to intensify this programme to cover each and every district of the country.

A programme of raising ‘National Green Corps’ through the Eco clubs was, therefore, launched during 2001-2002. Under this programme, Eco-clubs are being set up in 100 schools of each District of the country. 47,000 Eco-clubs have been set up so far in the country. This programme is being implemented in each State/UT through the Nodal agency appointed by the State/UT Govt.

The Government of India provides financial assistance for establishment of Eco clubs @ Rs.1000 per Eco-club, Training of Master Trainers, teacher training and distribution of resource materials. Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)

The GLOBE is an International Science and Education Programme, which stress on hands-on participatory approach. India joined this programme during the August, 2000. This programme, which unites students, teachers and scientists all over the world, is aimed at school children. The students of GLOBE schools are required to collect data about various basic environmental parameters under the supervision of a GLOBE trained teacher and use it for explaining hypothesis as well as to enhance their scientific understanding of the earth. This data is also used by the scientists in their research work. The GLOBE also provides an opportunity to the students to interact not only with the GLOBE scientists but also with the students from GLOBE schools in other parts of the world. About 100 schools spread over different parts of the country have already joined this programme. The teachers of these schools have also been trained in various GLOBE protocols. An International training workshop for trainers was successfully organised at New Delhi during January, 2002. The participants at this workshop, which included representatives from Nepal and Thailand besides India, were trained in Basic and Advanced GLOBE Protocols by a training team from GLOBE Headquarters in USA. Mass Awareness

Despite great efforts to spread environmental awareness by the Ministry through several schemes, it is felt that a large population especially in rural areas is still left out. The best way to reach out to them and make them aware of the environmental problems is through media, particularly the electronic media. "Mass Awareness" has therefore been identified as one of the thrust areas of the Ministry, not only to intensify the efforts already being made in this direction but also to launch new initiatives. The Doordarshan and few other television channels are proposed to be extensively used for telecasting environment based programmes and infomercials. Professional Media agencies which are hired to assist the Ministry in carrying out the campaign also play a major role. To encourage individual efforts in producing films/documentaries on environment/wildlife related themes in the country, the Ministry has sponsored organisation of a film festival "Vatavaran – 2001" by Centre for Media Studies, Delhi in April 2002.

Other Awareness Programs

The Ministry also sponsors various programs which do not fit into straitjacketed programs like NEAC, NGC, etc., and are aimed at creating environmental awareness among children. These include environment quiz (both written as well as televised), organization of activities for observation of special occasions such as earth day, special programs for children, etc. These proposals which are received throughout the year from various NGOs and other agencies, are considered on merit as and when received and are supported. Few examples such programs are:

• An international written Environment Quiz program known as Green Olympiad conducted by TERI. It is conducted in more than 200 centers across the country. Last year the quiz was conducted in both Hindi and English and more than 70,000 school students from India, Russia and UAE participated in this competition. The regional winners were selected for the televised quiz program named TERRAQUIZ which was telecast on National channel of Doordarshan. It was a great success in sensitizing the children about environmental issues.

• Awareness activities / events by NGOs, academic institutions etc. on the occasion of special Environment days like Earth Day etc.

• Written environmental quiz programs in different regional languages are being started. The winners of written quiz would participate in a televised quiz program.

• Organization of an annual Vacation Program on Environmental Resources for high school level students namely “Vacation program on Natural resources- building a broader constituency of support for conservation” by ATREE.

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