Heavy school bags on mind, High Court asks Maha to act fast

Voicing concern over heavy school bags carried by students, the Bombay High Court on Friday asked the Maharashtra government to expeditiously take a decision on the implementation of a resolution passed by it that seeks to address the problem.

A division Bench of Justices VM Kanade and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi, hearing a PIL filed by social activist Swati Patil on rising weight of school bags and its adverse impact on the health of children, gave three weeks to the government to take a decision.

Soon after the petition was filed, the government had appointed a committee, which had submitted several recommendations. As per the committee report, students are lugging school bags 20-30 <g data-gr-id="30">per cent</g> heavier than what children of their age should carry. Because of this, around 60 per cent students below the age of 10 suffer from orthopaedic as well as stress-induced ailments.

The committee recommended that one book should be used for three months for each subject and the <g data-gr-id="29">text book</g> weight can be reduced by using less weight paper and no hardcover.

Further, it suggested <g data-gr-id="22">use</g> of e-classroom, audio-visual technology and other technological means for teaching.

The government had informed the High Court that the committee report and its resolution on 

reducing the weight of school bags <g data-gr-id="50">was</g> only recommendatory in nature.

“This is a serious issue. <g data-gr-id="25">Government</g> has to take a decision soon. Have you (government) issued <g data-gr-id="24">instruction</g> to the schools about the resolution?” the Court said.