An open letter signed by a total of 1,730 parents from across Mumbai has been sent to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, requesting to reopen schools for younger classes (kindergarten and primary sections) in the city.

Schools in the city reopened for Classes VIII to XII last month. “Looking at the models followed in other parts of the country, where the reopening of primary schools was streamlined, we hoped that our kids too would start going to school post Diwali. But there is no sign of this yet,” said Gayatri Sabharwal, a parent and resident of South Mumbai. In the letter, parents have raised concerns about the rising cases of depression and anxiety among kids. “The development of our future workforce is at stake,” the letter states.