The Department of Environment is the Nodal Agency for implementing the National Green Corps (NGC) in Tamil Nadu and active since 2002-2003. There are 8000 NGC Eco clubs functioning in 32 districts@ 250/district. The MoEF&CC, GoI approved a grant of Rs. 5000/- per school during 2018-19 for the activities of NGC. Training is given to the teacher coordinators in each district of the State for NGC activities. Around, 3,20,000 children participate in the awareness movement under this programme.
The NGC students are engaged in various environmental awareness programmes like celebrating at least six Green Days in schools, school campus cleaning, tree planting, environmental awareness rallies, vermicomposting, enviro-expo, enviro-competitions, anti-plastic campaign, cultural programmes on environmental awareness, nature camps, Swachh Bharat etc
The main objectives of this programme is to educate children about their immediate environment and impart knowledge about the eco-systems, their inter-dependence and their need for survival, through visits and demonstrations and to mobilize youngsters by instilling in them the spirit of scientific inquiry into environmental problems and involving them in the efforts of environmental preservation. In Tamil Nadu, National Green Corps has been launched in 8000 schools located in 32 districts at 250 schools per district.