Constitution of Youth and Eco clubs in all the schools

The National Education Policy, 2020 envisions integration of environmental awareness and

sustainability into school education. Integrating climate change education at every stage of education

in India is crucial as it empowers students with the knowledge, skills and awareness needed to address

the pressing challenges of climate change. We all are aware of the debate and conversation on global

warming and climate change and have to find a carbon emission agnostic approach to rapid

development

In this direction, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (2023) gives the

required emphasis on developing knowledge, capacities, values and dispositions that would develop

both awareness and abilities to engage in environmentally sustainable practices. Accordingly, NCF-SE

aims to integrate environmental education at all levels of school education. Further, NEP 2020 has

enumerated environmental awareness including water and resource conservation as one of the essential

21st century skills that should be learned by all students to become good, successful, innovative,

adaptable and productive human beings in today's rapidly changing world.

3. It is important that environment education based on life experiences should begin during the

early years of life. Towards this end, Eco clubs in schools are meant to encourage students to

participate and take up meaningful environmental activities and projects. They are a forum through

which students can reach out to influence, engage their parents and neighborhood communities

promote sound environmental behavior. They empower students to explore environmental concepts

and actions beyond the confines of a syllabus or curriculum.

4 Accordingly, funds are being provided under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for establishing Eco

Clubs in government schools from primary to senior secondary under the head Youth and Eco Club'

since 2019-20. The financial norns for conducting youth and eco club activities are Rs. 5000 for

standalone primary schools, Rs. 15000 per annum/school at elementary level and Rs. 25000 per

annum/school at secondary level. However, currently only 40-60% schools have a Youth and Eco Club

on an average (State wise number of Eco Clubs is annexed). I understand states andUTs are presently

undertaking the planning process for the Annual Work Plan and Budget (A WP&B) 2023-24 and 2024-

25. So, I would like to urge you to avail these funds to not only achieve 100% saturation of all schools

with Eco Clubs but also facilitate conduct of activities to promote awareness and interest in the

environment education activities viz., energy consumption, water conservation, biodiversity, climate

change, etc. The following are some suggestive activities which can be taken up through eco clubs: