Pune:
The city-based Centre for Environment Education (CEE), set up more than a decade ago, works with the state government on projects related to increasing awareness about the environment. The state government last week made CEE the nodal agency for imparting green lessons to school students under the Environmental Service Scheme (ESS). Programme officer of CEE, Avinash Madale, spoke to Manasi Saraf-Joshi about the project.
Please throw light on the ESS.
We have designed the ESS on the lines of the National Service Scheme and the Centre's National Green Corps. Under the ESS, students would be doing various activities and projects for conservation of local environment. This is a pilot project implemented in the state. In fact, Maharashtra is the only state in the country to have such a project.
What are the major issues dealt with under this scheme?
Ecology conservation would be the focus under the project. The stress would be on saving the greenery of the city as well as water bodies. Measures will be taken to make the project a sustainable one. Carbon footprint checking and a campaign for spreading awareness will also be looked at.
How will the project be implemented?
We have planned to introduce the scheme in 50 schools across the state. The schools will tie up with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Then clubs will be formed. We are planning to establish 32 such eco clubs. The issues will be taken up after conducting a survey of the requirements of the city. Some cities might have a high pollution graph, another could have transport as the major problem.
What will be the role of the students in the project?
The students, from Std IX to XI, will work on the year-long project. A local issue will be taken up and students will suggest ways to carry out the project. The project will be voluntary. A group of 10 students per class will be formed in the school and will be supervised by four teachers. The students will work on themes selected and plan the activities.
When is the programme likely to take off?
We are planning to start the programme after the Diwali vacation. We will be focussing on 12 districts in the state having varied biodiversity.
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Please throw light on the ESS.
We have designed the ESS on the lines of the National Service Scheme and the Centre's National Green Corps. Under the ESS, students would be doing various activities and projects for conservation of local environment. This is a pilot project implemented in the state. In fact, Maharashtra is the only state in the country to have such a project.
What are the major issues dealt with under this scheme?
Ecology conservation would be the focus under the project. The stress would be on saving the greenery of the city as well as water bodies. Measures will be taken to make the project a sustainable one. Carbon footprint checking and a campaign for spreading awareness will also be looked at.
How will the project be implemented?
We have planned to introduce the scheme in 50 schools across the state. The schools will tie up with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Then clubs will be formed. We are planning to establish 32 such eco clubs. The issues will be taken up after conducting a survey of the requirements of the city. Some cities might have a high pollution graph, another could have transport as the major problem.
What will be the role of the students in the project?
The students, from Std IX to XI, will work on the year-long project. A local issue will be taken up and students will suggest ways to carry out the project. The project will be voluntary. A group of 10 students per class will be formed in the school and will be supervised by four teachers. The students will work on themes selected and plan the activities.
When is the programme likely to take off?
We are planning to start the programme after the Diwali vacation. We will be focussing on 12 districts in the state having varied biodiversity.
Copyright restricted. Under license from www.3dsyndication.com
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