Maharashtra sets the weight of school bags for children

Children weighed down by heavy school bags has become a common sight all over the world and, Maharashtra has decided to lighten this burden for children. It has already passed a resolution saying no child must carry to school a backpack that exceeds 10 percent of his body weight.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 25 July 2015.

The norms laid down are 2.5-Kg for five-year-olds in grade one and grade eight pupils aged 12 are limited to carrying 4.2-Kg. They would have to put their satchels on weighing scales when they arrive for class so that teachers can check and ensure that the limit has not been crossed.
In actual fact, the weight of the bags increase due to thick notebooks, textbooks, unrequired stationery and even cosmetics. This is not a healthy practice because they cause spine and joint problems apart from stress and fatigue which ultimately affect the well-being of the child.
The teachers should stagger homework and timetables so that children do not have to carry several textbooks to school every day. Simultaneously, parents need to ensure that the children do not pack unnecessary items in the school bags. Whether it is feasible or not is immaterial, the point is that implementation of this would mean a God-sent opportunity to mint money for manufacturers of weighing scales.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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