Maharashtra: Committee to suggest ways to lessen load of schoolbags

Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that it had set up a committee to suggest measures for reducing the load carried by children in their schoolbags.

An affidavit filed by the government said the state education board had also reduced the number of subjects at the primary level which will reduce the number of text books and note-books a student has to carry.

The court is hearing a public interest litigation expressing concern about the load carried by school-children. "For standards 1st and 2nd, the subject environment studies has been included in language and maths subjects. For standards 3rd to 5th, science, civil sciences and geography are included in environment studies and history has been incorporated in environment studies -2," the affidavit said.

Guidelines too had been issued from time to time such as the students should be asked to carry only the books prescribed by the government, notebooks for subjects like drawing and computer should be kept in the school, and if possible lockers should be made available, it said.

"A committee under the chairmanship of Director (Primary Education) has been formed in November 2014 to suggest remedies for reducing the weight of school bags," the affidavit said.

The division bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak posted the matter to May 5 for further hearing.