KATHMANDU, JANUARY 23
25 schools have been selected by the Department of Environment to carry out an environment protection program for the current fiscal 2021-22.
The schools selected are 11 from Bagmati and six from Province 1. Three from Gandaki and three each from Province 1; one from Lumbini. The programme was not offered by any Madhes school.
According to the department’s notice, the program was available to schools with basic or second-level education.
The department recently invited applications from interested schools, along with a proposal, implementation plan and activities, as well as a cost estimate. According to the department, the schools that submitted proposals were selected on merit in accordance with the 2019 ‘School-centric Environment Protection Programme Procedure’.
A seven-member committee, headed by the deputy director general of department, selects schools and conducts evaluation and monitoring of the school-centric environmental protection program. It lasts for one-year.
According to the department this program aims to make the mega campaign ‘Nepal Clean Environment’ launched by the federal government a success.
It involves expanding greenery promotion activities and pollution control activities to the community as well as schools from all provinces in order to develop sanitation culture. It envisages activating families, individuals, and communities to protect the environment by raising awareness at the school level.
The department must give Environment subjects high priority to the department in order for the programme to be conducted.
The department stated that it would enter into an agreement for the program’s execution with the selected schools.
After completion of the programme, schools will need to submit bills to the department to be reimbursed for any budget exceeding Rs 80,000. The selected schools will need to spend the grant amount on seven activities during the implementation of the programme. These include plantation, waste management, and pollution control measures.
A version of this article appears as a print edition in The Himalayan Times, January 24, 2022.