MoEFCC embarked upon a major initiative for creating environmental awareness among children by formulating National Green Corps (NGC) in 2001-02. NGC Programme aims at building cadres of young children working towards environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Operated through Eco-clubs set up in schools registered as members of NGC, this programme exposes school children to in-depth field experiences, and provides opportunities to convert their ideas into creative action. This programme seeks to redirect the consciousness of students towards environment friendly attitudes and actions and goes beyond schools, promoting school-society interactions to sensitize the society.

The number of schools supported under NGC per district is 250 with annual grant for each Eco-club being Rs.2,500/-. An additional amount of Rs. 25,000/- per district is given for monitoring at the district level.