Rc.No.1259325/2020-PLG-CSE Dt: 16/11/2020
Sub:- SE- School Nursery Yojana (SNY) Programme - Circulation and Implementation of Guidelines – Reg.
Read: - F.No:E.1-5/2020 B1 (NAEB), Governmen of India, National Afforestation and Eco-dvelopment Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi, Dated 14-10-2020.
ORDER:
All the Regional Joint Directors and District Educational Officers in the State are hereby informed that the “School Nursery Yojana” (SNY) Programme being proposed and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India for the period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
The School Nursery Yojana aims to provide an environment for the students to understand and appreciate the significance of plants in maintaining and sustaining the natural ecosystem. The underlying principle of the scheme is the concept of ‘Plant and Grow seedlings’. Primary objective is to generate consciousness about plants and environment and promote plantation activity through involvement of students.
Every year nursery is proposed to be taken up in 1000 schools. All Schools recognized by State and Central boards are eligible and will be selected by Forest Department. Students of class Sixth, Seventh and Eighth may be engaged for participation in raising of seedlings and for plantation. All activities like developing nursery, raising and planting seedlings are to be done by students as part of extra-curricular activities.
Schools can also engage Mali for help and support in creating nursery and saplings of different species like forest trees, medicinal plants, horticultural and fruit trees etc. can be raised. Each School will be provided financial assistance for establishment of nursery to cover cost of procurement of tools, implements and other consumables etc.,
All activities of nursery creation to be completed by December of the implementing year and seedlings raised by students are to be planted in next planting season. Students may carry the seedlings and plant in their homes or at any place of their choice and nurture them. Planting can also be done on vacant land in the school, other institutions, public or private land, home gardens etc. or during Van Mahotsav or through dignitaries with involvement of students. Land/place for planting may be identified well in advance.
The Cost of the project is proposed to be met from funds of National Authority of CAMPA. Monitoring of the scheme will be done by SFDAs and by Ministry also. The State Forest Department may coordinate with the Department of School Education for identification of schools and implementation of the scheme. SFDA will consolidate proposal of all SNY projects from schools from concerned districts/divisions and the proposal may be submitted to the NAEB within one month period.
Each school will be provided financial assistance for establishment of nursery to cover the cost of procurement of various tools, implements and other consumables etc. Each school will designate a Teacher in-charge to supervise and coordinate nursery and plantation activities. List of students along with number of seedlings raised and planted by each student to be maintained. Schools should display proper sign boards at both nursery and plantation site, showing details of the activity.
To synergise it with Eco-club scheme, schools having Eco-clubs will be given priority in selection for implementation of the scheme. Wherever, schools selected are also receiving funds under National Green Corps (NGC) Ecoclub programme of the ministry, funds for miscellaneous activities like report preparations, field study, photography, awards etc. will be suitably deducted by the amount released under Eco-club programme.
Each school will receive Rs.50,000/- as grant under this scheme. Out of this, Rs.40,000/- will be used by each proposer school for creation of Nursery with essential facilities. Balance Rs.10,000/- will be utilized for miscellaneous activities like report preparations, field study, photography, awards etc. In addition, another Rs. 40,000/- will be paid annually to schools for keeping a nursery trainer/mali.
In case the same school wishes to raise nursery next year or in subsequent years also, the grant of Rs.25,000/- will be given to meet the cost of consumables like soil, poly bags, or earthen pots, compost/manure etc. as the nursery is already established and will require only planting material
Each School will submit a detailed proposal elaborating all activities for raising at least 1,000 saplings of suitable plant species in the prescribed format to the concerned Range Forest Officer (RFO) of the area who will forward the proposal to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)/ Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), who after examining the proposal, will forward it to State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) with proper recommendations. SFDAs will then forward the consolidated proposal of all the schools to National Afforestation & Eco-development Board (NAEB) in the Ministry for further consideration, NAEB, after appropriate examination will forward the proposal to National Authority, CAMPA for release of funds.
SFDs will guide the schools and all technical support for raising of nursery, plantation and post plantation care to schools selected under this scheme will be provided by them.
In this regard all the RJDs and DEOs are requested to go through the ‘Guidelines’, Application Form for School Nursery Yojana, Report on Progress of Implementation enclosed as issued by the NAEB for implementation of School Nursery Yojana and prepare proposals. Further instructions will be issued accordingly.