The Eco Cadet Corps project, designed by the Kerala Forest department, was first proposed in 2014 with the aim of training schoolchildren in vital conservation efforts such as mangrove protection, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. (Photo for representation)
A decade after its initial conception, a promising environmental initiative in Kerala remains caught in a web of administrative delays and unfulfilled promises.
The Eco Cadet Corps (ECC) project, designed by the Kerala Forest department, was first proposed in 2014 with the aim of training schoolchildren in vital conservation efforts such as mangrove protection, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. Despite early momentum, including the initial allocation of funds, the project was placed on the back burner for over 10 years due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, leaving its vast potential to nurture young environmental stewards completely untapped.
Modelled after SPC
“The project, modelled after the Student Police Cadet (SPC) programme, targeted a minimum of 1,000 students from Classes VIII to X, pulled from over 1,195 active Forestry Clubs across the State. But it has languished in bureaucratic limbo for over a decade,” says Noushad K.A., schoolteacher and Forestry Club coordinator from Ernakulam.
The initiative found a brief moment of hope in 2025 when the Forest department announced it was finally all set to groom schoolstudents under the revised Eco Cadets scheme. Furthermore, promotional material from the department’s social media handles showcased students donning olive-green uniforms designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). However, this highly publicised revival was stalled once again, sparking immense frustration among educators and ground-level coordinators.
Order not issued
“The government didn’t issue an official order to implement the scheme. While the Forest department has prepared an extensive blueprint to expand the programme up to Class 12 and has forwarded the files to the authorities concerned, the lack of final clearance means the project cannot begin,” said Rajesh Sankar P.K., teacher and Forestry Club coordinator from Kozhikode.
For over a decade, a dedicated collective of Forestry Club coordinators from across the State has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to get the project rolling. They argue that the escalating crisis of human-wildlife conflict, coupled with the severe climate disruptions ravaging the State, make the moulding of an environmentally conscious younger generation an absolute necessity. “Beyond the fundamental goal of raising an eco-conscious generation, this programme holds immense practical value for the students’ future academic journeys. It will provide a solid foundational stepping stone, especially given the wide array of advanced environmental and forestry courses now available after Plus Two,” says Mr. Noushad.
CM, Minister petitioned
He adds that the coordinators had formally met the previous Forest Minister on multiple occasions to press this issue, but no tangible progress was made at the administrative level. They also feel that the programme should expand its reach to include students from lower primary and upper primary classes as well, ensuring that the seeds of ecological awareness are deeply planted at the most formative young age. “In order to break this decade-long deadlock, we have officially petitioned both the current Forest Minister and the Chief Minister seeking their direct intervention. We hope the Eco Cadet Corps can finally be launched in schools for the 2026-2027 academic year, transforming a 10-year-old dream into practical reality,” he says.
Published – June 03, 2026 06:11 pm IST
