History
The Supreme Court and Environment Education
In 1991, Shri M C Mehta filed an application in the public interest (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 860 of 1991), asking the Supreme Court to:
- Issue direction to cinema halls that they show slides with information on the environment.
- Issue direction for the spread of information relating to the environment on All India Radio.
- Issue direction that the study of the environment becomes a compulsory subject in schools and colleges.
The consequent order of the Supreme Court dated 22 Nov. 1991 is available . On 18th December 2003, the Hon’ble Supreme Court further ordered, “We also direct the NCERT….to prepare a module (model) syllabus”, and directed that “We accept on principle that through the medium of education awareness of the environment and its problems related to pollution should be taught as a compulsory subject. The University Grants Commission will take appropriate steps immediately to give effect to what we have said, i.e. requiring the Universities to prescribe a course on environment. So far as education upto the college level is concerned, we would require every State Government and every Education Board connected with education upto the matriculation stage or even intermediate college to immediately take steps to enforce compulsory education on environment in a graded way.” On 13th July 2004 the Supreme Court directed that “the syllabus prepared by the NCERT for Class I to XII shall be adopted by every state in their respective schools”. It further directed that “NCERT be appointed as a nodal agency to supervise the implementation of this Court’s order”. Compliance to Supreme Court order is mandatory and desirable, and applies to all states and Union Territories (in fact, it is one of the few things that apply to all education in India). NCERT developed the following syllabus for Environment Education for 1 to 12 standards, which was accepted by the Supreme Court (but this syllabus has subsequently been reviewed and revised in the light of NCF 2005) NCERT clarified that in order to have compliance, a separate subject is not necessary. It can be done through infusion, in science, social studies, mathematics, language and other subjects, and/or through a separate subject. It does however have to be part of the compulsory curriculum. The NCERT submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, which was accepted by the Supreme Court on 03-12- 2010 and the matter of the writ petition is deemed to have been resolved.
NEED
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.
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.
