The Hindu : Front Page : Increase number of National Green Corps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 27, 2006
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Increase number of National Green Corps

Staff Reporter

Forest Department tells schools

ECO-FRIENDLY: Forest Minister N. Selvaraj planting a sapling at a school in Tiruchi. — Photo: R. Ashok

TIRUCHI: The Forest Department has prevailed upon schools in Tiruchi district to increase the number of National Green Corps (NGC).

With the addition of 100 more units, the number of NGC units has increased to 250 in the educational districts of Tiruchi, Musiri and Lalgudi, this year. While there are 100 NGC units each in Tiruchi and Musiri educational districts, Lalgudi accounts for 50.

Each school is entitled to an annual grant of Rs. 2,500, sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, for undertaking environmental activities. The concept of NGC came into being in 2001, when 100 units were started across the Tiruchi revenue district.

Besides, Eco Clubs are functioning in 40 middle and primary schools in the Lalgudi education district. Each club gets an annual grant of Rs. 1,000 sanctioned by the State Forest Department.

Presiding over a function held at the St. Philomena's Girls' Higher Secondary School here on Thursday to distribute the Central grant to the NGC units in Tiruchi education district, the Minister for Forests, N. Selvaraj, said there was an imperative need to increase forest cover in the Sate outside the Reserve Forest areas. The Minister urged environmentalists to submit impact studies on these clubs so that the Government could consider granting special concessions to the student members.

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