EPCO

National Environment Awarness Campaign (NEAC)

The NEAC was launched in mid 1986 by the then Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India (now – Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change) with the objective of creating environmental awareness at the national level. In this campaign, nominal financial assistance is provided to NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research institutes, women and youth organisations, army units, government departments etc. from all over the country for conducting awareness raising and action oriented activities. Every year a national theme for NEAC is selected by the Ministry. EPCO has been appointed by the Ministry as Regional Resource Agency for coordinating and monitoring the campaign activities of the approved participating organisations. Every year the Ministry provides an indicative list of awareness activities based on the annual theme that may be organised under NEAC include workshops, training courses, camps, yatras, rallies, public meetings, exhibitions, competitions, demonstration projects, preparation and use of audio-visual materials besides CD-ROM and other multi-media tools. Folk media and street theatre can also be used as the medium of campaign.

Action component of the campaign to be taken up by the approved individual organisations varies based on the theme of the campaign. A suggestive list of action components is also provided by the Ministry every year.

In view of the wide range of inter-related environmental issues facing the country, the campaign activities shall focus on issues relating to the national/regional/local themes. Emphasis should be given to awareness activities that lead to action oriented activities on the sub-themes identified. The following are the annual theme and status of proposals: