Ranchi, Sept. 7: Buoyed by the response over the Centre’s National Green Corps scheme, which envisages setting up of eco-clubs in schools, the Union ministry of forests and environment has decided to increase the number of participating schools, from 100 to 150.

The Jharkhand Pollution Control Board (JPCB) said there are two reasons behind the increase.

“Spurred by the overwhelming response to the scheme and board’s directive, the district administration has furnished a list of participating schools, which were left out from the list. The administration wrote back to officials saying children were interested in eco-projects,” sources said.

JPCB member secretary S.K. Narnoli said: “We forwarded the letters from the school authorities of different districts to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The enthusiasm must have impressed the Centre, which has responded by increasing the number of participating schools in less than a month’s time.”

The decision to open eco-clubs in schools was taken on August 11,2003 following which 36 teachers were given advance training in spreading green awareness among children.

“It was possible only after the JPCB got the list of schools from over 18 districts. Though the scheme was launched by the Union government last year, its implementation was delayed because of the reluctance of the deputy commissioners in furnishing the board with a list of schools from the respective districts,” sources said. After the trainers attended a three-day workshop from August 11, the schools have been asked to train the teacher to be called the eco-club in-charge by the end of the month.

“According to a fresh Central directive, the number of eco-clubs to be opened in Jharkhand will increase from 22,00 to 33,00. Each eco-club will comprise 40 students as members and each club will be given Rs 1,000 to start with. The money will be spent on environmental awareness and pollution control measures,” sources said.

JPCB has circulated an annual calendar of events for the coming year. The calendar has an impressive line-up of events for all ecology-related occasions, so that school-children do not miss out on the green issues.